IB at SHS

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The International Baccalaureate Program at Spotsylvania High School is a four-year program beginning in the 9th grade. Students in the ninth and tenth-grade cohorts take courses designed to prepare them for the rigor of the eleventh and twelfth-grade IB courses. A sample course sequence shows the IB four-year scope and sequence of courses taken throughout the program.

Please review this comparison chart to understand the differences and similarities among the International Baccalaureate, Commonwealth Governor's School, and Advanced Placement programs.

Contact Information

Catherine LaRocco
IB Diploma Program Coordinator
clarocco@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
540-582-3882 | ext. 5481

Ninth Grade

Students are enrolled in SCPS courses specifically chosen to prepare them for the rigors and assessments of the IB Diploma Program. Six of the classes must relate to the IB program. The other two courses may relate, but this is not a requirement.

 **Students must complete Level One of their chosen language and at least Algebra I before entering the ninth grade**

Group

Subject

Course List

Group 1

Language & Literature

Honors English 9

Group 2

Language Acquisition

French II or III
Spanish II or III
German II or III
Latin II or III

Group 3

Individuals and Societies

Virginia & US History

Group 4

Experimental Sciences

Honors Biology

Group 5

Mathematics

Geometry
Honors Algebra II

Group 6

Arts and Electives

Art I
Theatre I
Orchestra/Band/Chorus
Marketing/Business
Technology

Additional Requirement

Health/PE

Health/PE 9

Elective

Elective Course

Elective Course at SHS

Tenth Grade

Students are enrolled in SCPS courses specifically chosen to prepare them for the rigors and assessments of the IB Diploma Program. Six of the classes must relate to the IB program. The other two courses may relate, but this is not a requirement.

Group

Subject

Course List

Group 1

Language & Literature

Honors English 10

Group 2

Language Acquisition

French III or IV
Spanish III or IV
German III or IV
Latin III or IV

Group 3

Individuals and Societies

AP Government

Group 4

Experimental Sciences

Chemistry

Group 5

Mathematics

Honors Algebra II
IB Math Analysis & Approaches I HL/SL

Group 6

Arts and Electives

Art II
Theatre II
Orchestra/Band/Chorus
Business Management
Technology

Additional Requirement

Health/PE

Health/PE 10

Elective

Elective Course

Elective Course at SHS

Diploma Program - Eleventh and Twelfth Grade

The list below indicates those courses currently taught in the IB Program at SHS in each course of study. During the 11th and 12th grades, IB Diploma students must complete one course in each study area; at least 3 (but no more than 4) must be at a Higher Level (HL). The remaining courses are studied at Standard Level (SL).  Most Diploma Program courses at SHS are two-year courses. Some are one-year courses.

Group

Subject

Course List

Group 1

Language & Literature

Language and Literature HL

Group 2

Language Acquisition

Spanish B SL
French B SL
German B SL
Classic Languages SL/HL

Group 3

Individuals and Societies

History of Europe HL (

Group 4

Experimental Sciences

Biology HL
Chemistry HL
Physics HL
Environmental Systems & Societies SL (one-year course)

Group 5

Mathematics

Mathematics Applications and Interpretations SL
Mathematics Analysis and Approaches SL/HL

Group 6

Arts and Electives

Visual Arts SL/HL
Theatre Arts SL
Business Management SL

Additional Requirement

--

Theory of Knowledge/Creativity
Activity and Service/Extended Essay

Elective

Elective Course

Elective Course at SHS

**Higher Level (HL) indicates a minimum requirement of 240 instructional hours. Standard Level (SL) indicates a minimum requirement of 150 instructional hours.**