International Baccalaureate: Global Program Thrives at Local High School

There’s something special going on at Inglemoor High School. Record numbers of students are enrolling in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, a comprehensive, challenging college-prep curriculum. And they are successfully meeting the demands of the internationally recognized program.

Inglemoor has been home to Northshore School Disctrict’s IB Program since 1997. The program serves students from all over the district, as well as those on waivers from as far away as Duvall, Bellevue and Seattle, says IB Coordinator Chris McQueen.

One of the oldest IB programs in the state, Inglemoor IB has seen enrollment grow every year. Last June, 112 students graduated as IB diploma candidates, says McQueen. In fact, he adds, “Inglemoor High School produces 22 percent of all IB diplomas in Washington.”

IB, established in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland, was designed for British students who were studying abroad. Modeled after the British pre-university system, it provides a rigorous, internationally recognized course of study for highly motivated high school students. Over 3,000 schools in 140 countries now offer the curriculum.

The two-year “full-IB” course of study consists of classes in five core academic subjects, plus a culminating Theory of Knowledge course, a research paper and community service requirement. It is “designed to be holistic,” says McQueen. The subject groups are the same throughout the world, and tests and assessments are standardized.

Like Advanced Placement (AP), IB is a step above the regular curriculum in rigor, says McQueen. Colleges and universities worldwide recognize the program; some even give class credit to students who successfully complete program coursework and pass the required assessments.

One of the hallmarks of the IB curriculum is its strong international focus, says McQueen. For example, he explains, a History of the Americas course takes a regional approach to our country’s history, rather than focusing on events in the U.S. alone. IB courses tend to differ from those in AP in scope, he adds. “AP is more breadth, IB is more depth.”

Coursework and assessments in the IB program are demanding, says McQueen. The focus is on writing and analysis. “There’s no such thing as multiple choice,” he explains. The program is not for everyone, admits McQueen. But that doesn’t mean it is the exclusive domain of only the top scholars. On the contrary, Inglemoor IB stresses access, with enrollment open to all students who want to step up to the challenge.

“We want (students) to seek the appropriate level of challenge,” says McQueen, adding that they don’t have to enroll in the full IB diploma program, but can take individual courses that interest them. Some take only the Visual Arts course, for example, and “they thrive,” says McQueen. Over half of Inglemoor students take at least one AP or IB course during their high school career, he adds.

McQueens suggests there are three qualifications that lead to success among “full IB” students: ability (of the average college-bound student), skills and discipline (organization, time-management, etc.) and motivation. Prospective IB students can be weak in one of those areas and still succeed, he adds, but if they have deficiencies in two or more of them, “it’s going to be a tough go.”

At the same time, he says, there are three reasons not to enroll in full IB: if a student’s parents are “making them” do it, if they think it will magically turn them into a good student, or if they think it’s a “magic bullet” for acceptance to Stanford or some other top-tier university. “We place our students very well,” he adds, but that shouldn’t be the motivation for enrolling in the program.

McQueen takes offense at the ‘don’t do IB...you won’t have a life’ sentiment he occasionally hears. It’s not said about the commitment required to be an elite athlete or musician, he notes. “It should be the same for school.” Dedication to academic success “should be celebrated,” he adds.

McQueen attributes the success of the Inglemoor IB Program to the “greatly supportive district and community.” He also credits the environment at the school. “IB has worked synergistically with Inglemoor High School, where it’s cool to do well in school,” he says. “There is a culture of achievement and a climate of success.”

To learn more, attend one of the upcoming IB Information Nights; parents and students are both welcome.