International Baccalaureate

The IB Diploma Programme is essentially a two-year college program undertaken in the junior and senior years of high school. The IB is the most academically challenging program not only at Mid-Pacific but also for schools worldwide. Students pursue six IB courses (one each of Literature, Individuals and Societies, World Language, Experimental Science, Mathematics, and either the Arts or a second option on the previous five subjects) building on their strengths as well as developing their weaker areas.

All students are required to take three additional components:

1. Theory of Knowledge (TOK) – a critical thinking class taken in the 2nd semester of their junior year and 1st semester of their senior year. This class is a philosophy course that ties into the other 6 courses (ex: what does it mean to think mathematically, historically, scientifically? Is the truth knowable? Does Objectivity exist?) and for which students write an essay and prepare an oral argument on one of the essential questions.
2. Write an original 3000-4000 word Extended Essay (the EE) to develop analytical research skills. Mid-Pacific uses part of the TOK class (first semester junior year) to prepare students for the EE.
3. Participate in a CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) Program, thereby developing the whole child.

Creativity = exploring and extending ideas to an original or interpretive product or performance.

Activity = physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle.

Service = collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need.

In addition to hitting all three strands of CAS, throughout their 18 month period, students will reflect on their experiences and meet seven learner outcomes that are defined by the IB:

• Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth.
• Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.
• Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
• Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.
• Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
• Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.
• Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions.

The IB Learner Profile IBO promotes the education of the whole person, emphasizing intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth through all domains of knowledge. Through class assignments, projects, class discussions, oral presentations and multiple assessment avenues, IB students develop the following learner profile attributes:

• Inquirers
• Knowledgeable
• Thinkers
• Communicators
• Principled
• Open-minded
• Caring
• Risk-takers
• Balanced
• Reflective

Students graduating from Mid-Pacific with an IB Diploma develop the following qualities and skills:

• Self confidence with university texts and materials;
• The capacity for independent/group research and study;
• Cultivated critical and creative thinking abilities with well-developed communication skills;
• The ability to complete challenging and rigorous courses of study;
• A more global perspective;
• Fluency in two languages;
• Compassionate concern for others.

Colleges value and actively recruit IB Diploma students for admissions. Colleges and universities throughout the United States and worldwide have developed an IB recognition policy. An IB diploma gives students a competitive edge in the college admissions process. The most prestigious colleges tend to give favorable consideration to high performing IB Diploma students in their admissions process. Many colleges and universities will give college credit for high IB scores. The amount of credit will vary depending on the college but can be up to one year of credit. Refer to the main IB web page to search college recognition policies. Success in the IB Diploma Programme is a consistent predictor of success in college, including graduation rate and GPA. In a report (based on data provided by the University of California President’s Office, www.ucop.edu) from a relatively recent study by the University of California system: Descriptive analyses indicate that students participating in the IB earned higher grade point averages and graduated at higher rates than comparison group students as well as students in the University of California system overall.

English Literature; French; Japanese; Spanish; Global Politics; Psychology; Computer Science; Informational Technology in a Digital Society; Biology; Chemistry; Design Technology; Environmental Systems; Physics; Mathematics Application and Interpretation; Mathematics Analysis and Approaches; Dance; Theatre Arts; Visual Arts; Film

Participation in the IB Program is strongly encouraged but not mandatory. Students can take just a single IB course or multiple courses up to the full IB Diploma. Currently, 85% of seniors and 75% of juniors take at least one IB course. All students wishing to enroll in any IB Class must be approved by the IB Coordinator. Approval is based on a combination of grades, teacher recommendations, standardized test scores and indications of student motivation. A student may request to be considered for IB courses even if they do not receive an initial teacher recommendation.