International Baccalaureate

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

History and Mission
The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is a non-profit educational organization that was established in 1968. It is governed by a 17-member Council of Foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland. The IBO is funded by fees from IB world schools with additional income from workshops and catalogue sales. The IBO aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the IBO 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.

IB programs are offered and recognized on every continent. The IB Diploma is recognized around the world as a gold standard in international education. Oxford University was the first university to accept the IB diploma as a qualification of entrance. Now, the IB Diploma can be used for entrance requirements to any major college on earth.

Purpose
IB is more than just a rigorous curriculum. It is an educational philosophy. IBDP candidates will develop as critical thinking students who will be able to integrate new information, analyze it and then produce new information. An IB student is innovative and creative. IB students develop into successful college students because they are more prepared for the rigor of analytical and evaluative thinking.

IB classes are taught by IBO trained teachers using an international, standardized curriculum. All IB students around the world take the same tests on the same day. In fact, in some classes, an IB student at BHS could take the IB exam for any given subject area at any testing center on earth and would test over the same material.

All major universities know of the IB Diploma Programme and most have developed policies with regard to college credit awards to students who succeed on IB exams. The IB website has more and specific information on the details of credit awards. Go to http://www.ibo.org/country/US/index.cfm, then select the university that interests you from the heading, "Universities that recognize the IB diploma."