International Baccalaureate

• Fact Sheet
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Offerings by High School

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB) began in the late 1960's when nineteen schools involved in the international school system piloted a program designed to bring consistency to course offerings and develop an assessment system leading to a diploma respected by universities around the world. Schools in North America, the fastest area of growth for the IB, have turned to the IB as one means of introducing rigor to their course offerings and prepare students for the transition to higher education.

The IB is an option offered at Beaverton, Southridge and Sunset high schools for motivated students interested in a rigorous and comprehensive course of studies. In grade eleven, students begin a two-year program designed to prepare them for IB assessments and exams in six subject areas. The areas include English, a second language, social science, science, mathematics, and the arts or another IB elective. In addition to testing in six areas, IB diploma candidates must also complete an interdisciplinary course entitled Theory of Knowledge, produce a 4,000 word research paper and fulfill the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) requirement made up of enrichment and community service activities outside the normal school day.

IB course offerings are labeled either Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). Students enrolled in HL courses take their exams after two years of study. Most SL offerings test after one year of instruction. Diploma candidates must have satisfied IB requirements in three HL and three SL courses by the end of their senior year but are limited to a maximum of two exams as juniors. All exams are scored from 1 to 7 with a total score of 24 necessary to earn an IB diploma.

Beaverton, Southridge, and Sunset are three of the eleven Oregon schools authorized to offer the IB diploma program. During the month of May, 2004, 235 District students sat for 656 IB exams in 25 different subject areas. This is a marked increase over the District's first testing year, 2001, when 101 students took exams in 18 subjects.

Students not interested in earning an IB diploma may earn IB certificates in one or more of the HL and/or SL courses offered at their school. Colleges and universities typically give credit for HL exam scores of 5 or above. Some institutions also give credit for SL exams. Parents and students should contact specific universities to investigate credit recognition policies.

The IB programs in the Beaverton School District are very inclusive and open to all motivated students interested in a rigorous and comprehensive course of studies.