Courses Offered
Group 1 - Studies in Language & Literature
At JFK, we're IB for All. Beginning with the Class of 2022 and on, all students have immediate access to take IB Language and Literature both their junior and senior years.
As part of our Heritage Spanish pathway, students already fluent in Spanish can take IB Spanish Language and Literature HL. This course also fulfills the requirement for students wishing to complete the IB Bilingual Diploma.
Group 2 - Language Acquisition
Students who progress through Spanish 3 and Spanish 4 over the course of their junior and senior years, respectively, will be enrolled in the standard level (SL) Spanish course. A higher level (HL) course is also available for Spanish acquisition, which is the equivalent of Spanish 4 and Spanish 5.
Students can take four years of French at JFK, with the final two years (3 and 4) being offered as a standard level (SL) language acquisition option.
As part of our commitment to multilingualism, JFK students take at least two years of a world language. Many students complete this requirement during their freshman and sophomore years. For students who choose to wait, or wish to take a new language during her junior and senior year, they have the option to pursue the diploma by taking the ad initial courses. All other level one and two courses follow the standards and practices
Group 3 - Individuals & Societies
Psychology at a higher level (HL) is a two-year course. Students will commit to take this course during both their junior and senior years.
IB History of the Americas is a two-year higher level (HL) course that focuses on the political, economic, and social history of the 20th Century.
Group 4 - Sciences
Both IB Biology courses extend two years. The primary difference is that the HL curriculum is broader in its scope and an opportunity for students (especially those considering science as a post secondary pathway) to extend their learning.
Students may choose to take this one-year science course as their primary science or as an additional subject or elective class. Due to this course being completed in one year, it is recommended that students take SEHS after completing Health and Medical Science.
Although IB ES&S counts as a science credit within Denver Public Schools, students would are pursuing the IB Diploma can take this class as an interdisciplinary course that counts both for Group 3 and Group 4. This frees IB DP students to double up in another subject. Similar to IB SEHS, this is a one year course that can be taken either junior or senior year.
Group 5 - Mathematics
IB Math A&I SL is taught as a two-year course and is designed for those who enjoy the practical side of mathematics.
IB Math A&A is taught as a two-year course. Both the SL and HL levels allow students the opportunity to explore both the real-life and abstract components of mathematics.
Group 6 - Arts
IB Visual Arts is a one-year SL offering, which can be taken by students during either their junior or senior year.
Theory of Knowledge is a required course for any student pursuing the full IB Diploma, but it can be taken as an elective by any interested student. At JFK, students take TOK 1 during their junior year and TOK 2 during their senior year.