Thursday, February 09, 2012 3000 East Gap Creek Road * Greer, South Carolina 29650 * (864)355-5700 * Guidance Department 355-5704

IB Program
 

Promotional Video

2008 Graduates

2007 Graduates

Greenville County Schools IB programs

 To access forms and other IB information, Click here
CAS Form

Students are asked to commit to the program in grade 9 in order for their schedule and grades to be monitored to make sure they are prepared in the 11th grade.  Also, please contact information  Mrs. Marian Coggins at mcoggins@greenville.k12.sc.us or 355-5721 for more information or if you have any questions.

 


What is the 'IB' Diploma Program?

The IB Diploma Program is a rigorous pre-university academic program that challenges students to improve in ALL areas of academics and personal growth. It is a world wide academic program that results in students receiving an internationally recognized high school diploma.

What is required to eventually receive the IB Diploma?

Students will complete the following criteria in the final two years of their high school career: · take exams and make a passing mark in 6 subject areas; · complete a 4,000 word essay called the Extended Essay; · participate and complete 150 hours in a community service program called Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) · complete a philosophy base course called the Theory of Knowledge (ToK)

Are these 6 subjects in addition to what is already required of our students to receive a State Diploma?

No. The subject exams are integrated with classes that the students already take in order to received the State Diploma. The six subject exams are in the following subject areas:

Group 1: Language A1 (English Literature, Grammar, Composition) Group 2: Language B (Foreign Language in Spanish, French, German) Group 3: Individuals and Societies (Social Studies - History of the Americas, European History) Group 4: Experimental Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) Group 5: Mathematics (Math Studies, Math Methods/Calculus) Group 6: The Arts (Visual Art, Chorus/Music, Computer Science, OR an exam in a class from groups 2 - 5)

Is this similar to the AP Program?

Yes and No. It is similar in that it is a challenging curricular and students are eligible to receive college course credit if a certain mark is obtained on the exams. Other than that, the two programs are different in that the AP Program prepares students to only sit and make a certain score on the AP Exam. In the AP Program students only take classes in which they possess a strength and are sure to perform well in.

The IB Program is a two year program that stresses academic diversity so that the student will participate in classes and exams in which they are both strong and weak. This better prepares the students for the academic diversity in which they will encounter in the university setting.

Will my student have to choose between taking IB and AP courses?

Not at Greer High School. For the most part, the IB and AP Programs have extremely similar set of curricular for each of the courses and 'mesh' well together. At Greer High School we will work to align all of our AP and IB offerings so that when each student registers for an AP course, they will sit for both the AP and IB examinations at the end of the course. This only increases the opportunity for each student to receive college course credit. For example, if your student wishes to enroll in AP Spanish, the class will be an AP/IB mix and your student will sit for both examinations.

If my student wants to register for an AP course, will they be forced to participate in the IB Program?

When the students register for the AP/IB courses, they will sit for both exams. However, if the student wishes only to take an exam for a particular course, they can earn an IB Certificate for that particular course. These certificates work in the same way that a passing score on the AP Exam works and Universities and Colleges recognize it for college course credit.

Are there any fees associated with this Program?

Not currently. As of now this is a District Sponsored Program in which parents and students are not required to pay to participate.

I have heard about an IB Program existing at the Elementary and Middle School Levels. Are these Programs linked to the High School IB Program?

Yes, all of these programs are connected. The IB Program starts at the Elementary School Level (K - 5) and is currently in the process of implementation at Chandler Creek Elementary School.

The IB Program runs through the Middle School and serves students beginning in Grade 6 up until Grade 10 - this is called the IB Middle Years Program. As one can see, the Middle Years Program overlaps with the high school years. It is crucial that that Middle School and High School's work together to ensure that students complete all IB Program Requirements. The Middle Years Program is currently in the process of implementation at Greer Middle School.

If my student didn't participate in the IB Program at the Elementary and Middle Years Levels, are they eligible to participate at the High School Level?

Yes. It is not necessary to participate at those first two levels in order to take the IB/AP classes in the Junior and Senior Years of High School.