Frequently Asked Questions

• Both will help you be more prepared for college-level work

• Both offer the opportunity for college credit (depending on individual university guidelines)

• All advanced courses (advanced, AP, and IB) receive a GPA bump. While in a regular class an A is worth 4 points, an A in any of these more challenging courses is worth 5 points. Another way to look at it is that a B in an advanced course is the same as an A in a regular course, which is one way we reward you for taking on the challenge.

• Both have official assessments that are graded by trained external graders.

• Both have a fine arts elective taught at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts (AP Music Theory and IB Visual Arts)

There are two ways to look at the differences between AP & IB: logistical and philosophical

Logistical differences

• Scheduling: IB is designed as a two-year program for juniors and seniors that involves a set of required classes, while AP courses are offered all four years and are a la carte (you can take as many or as few as you want). All IB classes are open enrollment, but keep in mind some require a 2 year commitment.

• Assessments: AP courses are assessed with a single standardized test (some writing, some multiple choice). IB courses include multiple, different assessments throughout the course, allowing students to show what they know in different ways. All IB courses include at least one assessment that is student-driven, allowing students to dive deeply into an area of interest. 

Philosophical differences

• College Board (who runs AP) is focused on college success and opportunity. The AP program provides academic experiences that help students be more prepared for (and possibly earn credit for) college-level courses.

• The IB mission statement is more broad, encompassing goals for the whole student and their place in the world. Beyond the rigorous academic experiences in IB, the program explicitly supports development of the habits and skills that make academic and personal growth possible. The Learner Profile encourages students to be deep thinkers, good communicators, principled in their actions, caring, and open-minded. It also calls us as educators to help students be balanced as they take on challenges and to directly teach skills that support their efforts. In other words, it is an essential part of the IB program -- not a "nice to have" but a "must have" -- that students are viewed as their whole selves and supported as they grow academically and personally, with their brains and with their hearts. 

Yes! You can mix and match all programs. In fact, many Diploma Cohort students choose to take dual credit government and economics (the only two graduation requirements not included in the Diploma Cohort requirements) in the summer or those AP courses during the year. The only limitations to your course options stem from scheduling and time.

Yes! 

We have had top-level fine arts performers and athletes in the Diploma Cohort, as well as students in double-blocked courses such as those at the CTC. Diploma Cohort students will have a minimum of one and up to three open periods for an elective each year. 

We created the Foundations Cohort specifically for those students who want the IB class experience but have interests that require numerous classes in their schedule.

Class-for-class, both AP and IB are equally challenging but in different ways. One reason why there is a perception that IB is harder is that Diploma Cohort students are required to take seven advanced classes. AP students who carry a similar course load have a similar level of challenge, not just in academics but in balancing all of that work.

Because of the different assessments and philosophies in the programs, the classes have differences that my affect how "hard" they are for different students. There are equally smart AP and IB students who enjoy one program but would find the other program challenging. Students who thrive in AP tend to like structure and explicit guidelines for writing/assignments. IB students tend to enjoy having more choice in how to accomplish a task and are less bothered when a teacher responds to "how do I do this?" with "how do you think you should do it?"

You should choose a pathway that is the best fit for you. Below are some common reasons students choose IB and value it after graduation.

• Students who earn the IB Diploma tend to earn more college credit. In fact, Texas public schools are required to give those students a minimum of 24 credit hours.

• IB Cohort students will be in many of the same classes. They get to know each other, support each other, and are more comfortable in class discussions.

• IB Cohort students will be resources for each other academically and personally. Nervous about volunteering or leading an event? We all are! We'll do it together.

• IB Foundations Cohort students will receive a graduation cord, and IB Diploma Cohort students will receive an IB graduation stole.