9th and 10th grade students take honors-level courses from the six main subject areas while also fulfilling other high school district requirements. Their teachers are MYP-trained (IB Middle Years Program).  

11th and 12th graders are part of the IB Diploma Program, or the DP. 

Course versus Diploma Candidates

•  IB course candidates are students who take 1 to 5 individual IB courses. Students involved in other programs such as AVID are typically IB course candidates. 

•  IB diploma candidates are students who take a full IB course schedule, including Theory of Knowledge, CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service), and the Extended Essay. Diploma candidates are eligible to receive the full IB Diploma after graduation.

Types of Diploma Program Classes

There are two types of IB courses during 11th and 12th grade, Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). Most IB courses are taught over two years, but HL courses have additional requirements and are considered more difficult that SL courses. 

Earning College Credits

Both course and diploma candidates may earn college credit for their coursework depending on their final test scores and on a university's particular credit policies. Check with the colleges or universities in which you are interested to see what their policies are. 

Earning an IB Diploma

Full IB Diploma candidates must complete one class from each IB subject group (three of which must be HL), complete their CAS requirement, write an Extended Essay, and take Theory of Knowledge. Each course is worth from 1 to 7 marks, with the final mark for each based on the completion of internal components such as essays and projects, and on external examinations taken by students near the end of the program. The Extended Essay and the internal components of the Theory of Knowledge course may also add up to 3 additional marks towards earning the diploma.

In summary, a full IB diploma is earned if

• the student has taken six IB courses and

• at least three of the IB courses are HL and

• the student has taken Theory of Knowledge

• the student has a cumulative score of at least 24 and

• the student has completed the Extended Essay and

• the student has satisfied the requirements of CAS. 

CAS

CAS stands for creativity, activity, and service. To complete this requirement, students document time spent pursuing activities outside of the classroom that enhance their personal and interpersonal development.  

The Extended Essay

The Extended Essay is an in-depth research paper on a topic chosen from one of the six subjects that a student is studying. Students begin this paper during their junior year and complete it during their senior year.

Theory of Knowledge

This class provides opportunities for students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and is central to the philosophy of the Diploma Program. It is taught beginning in the second semester of junior year until the conclusion of the first semester of senior year.