FAQ

How long has the IB Programme been at Choctawhatchee High School?

Choctaw has been an IB school for over 25 years, with the Programme starting in the late 1990s. It is an established Programme that has graduated thousands of successful students through the years.

Which other schools offer the IB Programme?

Choctaw is the only IB school in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties. There are over 5,000 IB schools across 160 countries throughout the world.

How do IB and AP Compare?

At Choctaw, the IB Programme is divided into two parts – the Florida PreIB Programme (9th and 10th grade years), which is used to help ease students into the full Diploma Programme (11th and 12th grade). During the first three years, students take AP classes as part of the IB curriculum, so, in reality, an IB student is doing both to a certain extent.

As far as differences between the two, IB is a full program of study, meaning that students don’t get to pick and choose where to take their higher level classes. Students who go the AP route may say, “I’m good at math, so I’ll do AP Calc, but I struggle in English, so I will do regular English IV.” In IB, students will do English, Foreign Language, Math, History, and Science at an advanced level. Another big difference is that, for IB, foreign language is required for all four years. For non-IB students, two years of a language is sufficient for college acceptance.

Finally, there are some other requirements that only IB students do, such as CAS (Community, Activity, and Service), the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) globally required course, and the Extended Essay (EE). These things are used to tie all of the subjects together into a holistic curriculum. 

As far as college entry goes, our experience has been that colleges look more favorably upon IB students because they know that they have gone above and beyond and have held themselves to a higher standard. Students themselves acknowledge that the work they put in during high school really makes the transition to university easier. Also, any student who gets the IB Diploma is guaranteed the highest level of the Bright Futures Scholarship in the state of Florida, regardless of other factors.

Is IB hard? Is it too much work?

There is no doubt that the IB is a rigorous program, but it is designed to be age-appropriate. Students are challenged but are not expected to take on too much at once. We begin working with students in their 9th-grade year and offer a good deal of support while they adapt to high school. The IB team continues to support them as they move through their high school years thereby forming a tight-knit community of teachers and students. Teachers work together to stagger assignments so that students are not overwhelmed by too many large projects or tests at one time, and students support, encourage, and help one another. Students find that they become excellent at organization and time management, and feel fully prepared to take on the challenge of university once they have completed our program.

Will I have time for sports and other activities?

IB students are truly the most involved in the school. They are class officers, band members and drum majors, athletes, members and leaders of clubs, and active participants in our community. In the current school year, all four class presidents are IB students! These students truly are well-rounded individuals who enjoy working with others and having fun.

Will I have extra support if I am in the Programme?

Yes! IB students work closely with an IB Advisor who will help them pick classes, counsel them when they are struggling academically, and generally support them while they are in the Programme. Additionally, IB students have their usual guidance counselor who is also available to help them.  

Does IB offer any fun activities?

Students in the Florida Pre-IB and Diploma Programmes will participate in three pizza lunches per year and attend traditional field trips.

9th grade: HSU Educational Foundation

10th grade: Tallahassee - Challenger Space Center & Admissions tour of Florida State University

11th grade: Overnight trip to New Orleans - World War II Museum, New Orleans Museum of Art, among other activities

12th grade: Overnight trip to St. Augustine - Castillo de San Marcos, Lightner Museum, and other activities

Can I get college credit through IB?

Yes! Most colleges will accept IB credit in the same way that they accept AP. Most colleges in the State of Florida will offer a significant amount of both AP and IB credit for passed exams. Students should check each individual college's handbook for more detailed information.

Can IB help with Bright Futures?

Yes! Any student who receives the IB Diploma will automatically receive the highest level of Bright Futures, regardless of other factors. Even students who do not receive the Diploma will often benefit because they will have completed the highest level of community service through their CAS work.

Can I take an IB class even if I am not in the full Diploma Programme?

In many cases, yes. Choctaw loves to see non-IB students take certain IB classes, and you can receive college credit from this work regardless of your status in the full Programme. Students must be in the 11th and 12th grades to test in an IB course. Classes open to all students at Choctaw are IB Visual Arts, IB French and Spanish, IB Mathematics, IB Economics, IB Philosophy, and IB Chemistry. If you are interested in one of these classes, you can speak with your guidance counselor for more information.