IB Courses at SRHS are open to ALL Juniors and Seniors and we have LOTS of options!  You may be wondering, though, why you would take an IB course.  Here are some reasons:

Why take an IB Course?

1. Critical Thinking and International Mindedness: the mission of IB is to create a more peaceful world through education.  IB courses are geared towards allowing students to think for themselves, analyze the world around them, and reflect on their roles in a global society.

2. College credit in Oregon: In Oregon, credit for IB courses is LAW.  If you score a 4 or above on your exams, you will receive college credit at all public Oregon schools.  Here are some examples at various Oregon colleges and universities:

• • • • • IB History of the Americas HL: 8 credits at OSU/UO

        • IB Bio HL: 12-15 credits PSU

        • IB Chem SL: 5 credits PCC

        • IB Geo SL: 4 credits LCC

        • IB Literature HL: 12 credits PSU

        • IB Lang and Lit SL: 3  WR 121 credits Clackamas Community College

        • IB Math Analysis and Interpretations HL: 12-14 credits LBCC

For information about college credit at places outside of Oregon, check each school's individual website!

3.  Weighted GPA/Potential for Southridge Scholar: All IB courses earn weighted grades at SRHS. 

4. Ability to direct your own learning: many IB courses allow students to choose certain aspects of their learning in the course.  Students may choose their own topics for historical investigations, conducting experiments, etc.

5. And some ideas from your fellow Skyhawks in response to the question: "why are you taking IB courses?"

• "IB allows forces you to break out of being shy, you make a lot of new friends and connections who are in the same classes as you and they're super valuable to me, and college credit saves $$$!!"

• "I truly value a challenge in higher education, and with my future career being highly academic and valued in prestige, an IB Diploma can help me get through college faster and be considered for better schools. Working in IB classes really does build work ethic as well and encourages higher thinking and discussion."

• "I’m taking my 4 IB classes so that I have a better chance of getting into colleges and to challenge myself in order to be prepared for college. Also, in taking IB classes, I won’t have to take as many classes in college potentially because of the credits in covers for many schools."

• "I am taking IB courses because I have a higher chance to get into colleges I’m interested in. It will also give me IB credits that can transfer over to colleges, so I can have a shorter time spent in specific courses. I also wanted to take IB classes to challenge myself and learn more about things I am interested in at a higher level."

6. Some ideas about why you would be interested in the IB CP:

6. • • • "The CP is a really good way to explore your interested career pathway while taking IB Courses that will help you with pre-reqs and college credits, saving you some money and allowing you to explore a lot about different careers. Health careers is the best. The CP is something I do not regret joining, it has provided me with a lot of insight on my CTE pathway and has helped me further explore my future careers and helped me gain experience!"

       • "I signed up because my career pathway of Sports Med sounded really interesting to me and it was a good chance to commit to a pathway in high school. It also looks really good to colleges."

7. Some ideas about the value of the IB DP:

7. • • • "The DP gives you some good insight to what colleges might be like as well as shows you some more in depth thinking. I didn't really understand what past DP students where talking about when they talked about the classes giving them the ability to "think more deeply or in depth" but I get it now!"

       • "For competitive college admissions, to show that you are rigorously, academically prepared for future education."

       • "College goes faster! Get into better schools! Helps prepare for higher education if that is where your future lies!"

       • "Sign up for DP if you're not too sure about what you want to do but still want to earn that COLLEGE CREDIT, besides you can always drop out at anytime if you realize what you feel passionate about."