The International Baccalaureate Program aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who can help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the International Baccalaureate Organization works with schools, governments, and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people with their differences can also be right.
Introduction
The International Baccalaureate Program (IB) can be found in over 70 countries, and all IB schools share a common curriculum. IB is designed for motivated students who want to learn a variety of subjects at an advanced level and who want to embrace diversity and an understanding of different cultures. The IB curriculum mandates that students study a wide range of subjects including Language Arts, World Language, History, Science, Math, and a specified sixth subject. IB students are required to become active in their community through volunteerism and must create major self-directed projects in both the 10th and 12th grades. An IB graduate is an analytical thinker who understands others' viewpoints while maintaining an individual value system.
MYP and DP
The PHS IB program is divided into two parts. Ninth and tenth graders are IB Middle Years Program students (MYP). This program accelerates the students academically within a specific philosophical framework. Please go to the MYP link for more specific information. Students enter the IB Diploma Program (DP) in eleventh grade after successful completion of all components of the MYP. The DP provides collegiate level coursework during the junior and senior year for which students have the opportunity to receive college credit. Please go to the DP link for more specific information.
"The IB Family"
In many ways the IB program promotes a close relationship between teachers, students and parents. Teachers work together to coordinate the curriculum within a grade level and to provide a smooth transition to the next. They, along with the IB Counselor, also provide a strong support network for IB students. IB Student Council works to develop programs for the IB students, and the IB parent community offers many services through the Parent Advisory Board to benefit everyone associated with IB.
IB and PHS
IB students are Poudre High School students. They are involved in a wide variety of PHS extra-curricular activities, and when schedules allow, they may take additional PHS course offerings. Although IB is seen as a smaller learning community within PHS, IB students are not segregated, nor would IB promote a division.
Conclusion
This website allows you to examine our internationally recognized IB program in more detail. If you have further questions, please contact Christine Hays, IB Program Director at (970)488-6119 or chays@psdschools.org.