Open House Information

What is an IB Education?

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme at St. Mary Catholic Academy provides motivated, university-bound students the opportunity to participate in an international curriculum. The program is a four-year course of study with two phases: Grades 9 and 10 are SMCA Pre-IB Enriched Learning Programme, and Grades 11 and 12 make up the IB Diploma Programme. Students apply in 8th grade to enter the programme beginning in 9th grade.

What is the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme?

• An internationally recognized two-year diploma program, beginning in grade 11, which provides a challenging curriculum for highly-motivated students.

• The world’s fastest growing pre-university education program. Its curriculum offers high academic standards in first and second languages, mathematics, humanities and sciences.

• A program which:

• focuses on the development of cross-curricular skills that will be useful throughout students’ lives.

• promotes problem solving and critical thinking within the context of an international-minded curriculum

• focuses on the development of the whole student- intellectually, physically, emotionally and ethically.

• integrates the requirements of the OSSD and those unique features of the IB course of study.