Frequently Asked Questions About The IB

For Parents and Students

• What is the International Baccalaureate?
• How many schools offer IB programmes?
• How do I find a school that offers an IB programme?
• Are IB programmes only for honors or gifted students?
• Can any student enroll in an IB programme?
• Can I use the IB programme to home school my child?
• Can students with special needs participate in an IB programme?
• We have heard that IB programmes are elitist and serve only a
  privileged population. Is this true?
• How much do IB programmes cost?
• How can I get more information about IB in North America

What is the International Baccalaureate?

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an independent
nonprofit educational foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland. It offers to
schools three programmes: the Diploma Programme in the final two years of
the secondary school, the Middle Years Programme for students aged 11 to
16, and the Primary Years Programme for students aged 3 to 12.
International Baccalaureate North America (IBNA) was founded 30 years ago
as a nonprofit organization with the mission of providing support services to
schools adopting the IB Diploma Programme in Canada, the US and the
Caribbean.

How many schools offer IB programmes?

There are nearly 1,600 schools in 121 countries authorized to offer IB
programmes (Diploma Programme, Middle Years Programme, Primary Years
Programme).

How do I find a school that offers an IB programme?

To find the nearest IB-authorized school to you, visit the IB website at
www.ibo.org and select “schools” from the SHORTCUTS menu. There you
may search for IB-authorized schools near you using the “schools directory”.
You may also search for IB-authorized schools in the USA, Canada, and the
Caribbean at the IB North America Subregional Association website:
http://www.ibnasubregional.org.

Are IB programmes only for honors or gifted students?

No. The IB permits IB-authorized schools to implement their programmes
in ways that will best meet their local needs. This means that one will see
a wide variety of student enrollment patterns in IB programmes across
North America.

This variety is particularly apparent in the IB Diploma Programme. Many
schools see the IB Diploma as a way to address the needs of gifted and
honors students; these schools tend to have selection criteria (such as grade
point average, standardized test scores, teacher recommendations, essays,
etc.) for admission to their IB Diploma Programmes. Other schools allow any
willing student to attempt the IB Diploma Programme and often provide
specific services to support these students in their efforts.

Although the Diploma Programme and the Middle Years Programme are
occasionally implemented by schools as a programme for a select group of
students, the IB Primary Years Programme is expressly designed for every
student on campus, using what is referred to as a “whole-school” approach.
Please contact your local IB-authorized school for information on admission
into IB programmes.

Can any student enroll in an IB programme?

Only students enrolled in and attending an IB-authorized school may
participate in an IB programme. In addition, schools and school districts
may set their own entry requirements for students. Parents and students
are encouraged to contact their local IB school and talk with the IB
programme coordinator to learn about how to enroll in an IB programme.

Can I use the IB programme to home school my child?

No. The IB permits only students enrolled in and attending IB-authorized
schools to participate in an IB programme.

Can students with special needs participate in an IB programme?
Yes. The IB has established policies for accommodating students with
special needs. A publication detailing these policies is available on the IB
website at www.ibo.org/ibo/index.cfm/en/ibo/services/publications
(search for keywords ‘special assessment needs’). Schools are asked to
notify the IB of participating students whom they have identified as having
special needs.

We have heard that IB programmes are elitist and serve only a
privileged population. Is this true?

No. At its inception, the IB Diploma Programme was generally found in
private, international schools that tended to serve privileged families.
Nevertheless, the IB has always been committed to making an IB education
available to students from all types of backgrounds. This is particularly true
in North America, where a majority of schools offering the IB are public
(state-funded) schools. These are schools of all types – urban, suburban,
magnet, comprehensive, and mixed socio-economic populations – and their
IB programmes serve all types of students.

How much do IB programmes cost?

The costs vary depending on which IB programme is being offered and how
many students are involved. Each of the IB Programmes has an annual
subscription fee that schools must pay. For the Primary Years Programme
and the Middle Years Programme, there are rarely any fees passed on to
students.

The Diploma Programme has course registration and examination fees.
School or school district policy will determine if the school covers all these
fees or if any of the fees must be shared by participating students. For more
detailed information on fees, please contact the IB North America office at the
coordinates listed at the end of this FAQ.

How can I get more information about IB in North America?

For additional information, or if you have any suggestions or comments
about the questions and answers that appear here, please contact the IBNA
office in New York (+1-212-696-4464) or Vancouver (+1-604-733-8980, or toll
free at +1-866-VAN-IBNA), or by email at ibna@ibo.org.

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