Widely considered the world’s premier academic curriculum, the International Baccalaureate (IB) is the perfect fit with Clariden’s educational philosophy of excellence. Student inquiry, intellectual risk-taking, and international mindedness permeate our classrooms and ensure our students are well-prepared for college and beyond.
AN IB EDUCATION
- Focuses on learners. The IB’s student-centered programs promote healthy relationships, ethical responsibility, and personal challenge.
- Develops effective approaches to teaching and learning. IB programs help students to develop the attitudes and skills they need for both academic and personal success.
- Works within global contexts. IB programs increase understanding of languages and cultures and explore globally significant ideas and issues.
- Explores significant content. IB programs offer a curriculum that is broad and balanced, conceptual and connected.
The IB learner profile expresses the IB mission statement in action, representing 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools that can help people become responsible members of local, national, and global communities. IB learners strive to be inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective.
- IB World Schools (the only schools authorized to offer IB programs) are subject to a strict accreditation process monitored by the IB, ensuring that schools provide a high-quality education.
- IB teaching methods and curricula are research-based and draw from the best educational practices from systems around the world.
- IB teachers are required to participate in many professional development opportunities to continually promote their awareness of current educational practices and new thinking.
- IB programs are recognized internationally. Universities and future employers recognize the depth and breadth of the rigorous work undertaken by IB students.
Read more about the IB on Newsweek: How IB Schools Give Your Child the Best Possible Start
The Clariden School is a Candidate School* for the IB Diploma Programme. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that The Clariden School believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org.
If authorized, the Diploma Programme will be offered to grades 11 and 12. It is similar to AP courses in that it is optional, rigorous, and can provide college credits. Additionally, the IB Diploma Programme is internationally renowned.
WHY THE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME?
Parents who want the best possible education for their children choose the Diploma Programme (DP) because it offers:
- a challenging academic curriculum that serves as outstanding preparation for university and higher education
- a student-centered approach to teaching, focused on developing students intellectually, emotionally physically, and socially, as opposed to preparation for test-taking only
- a focus on international-mindedness, compassion, and understanding intercultural differences
- respected, reliable, and world-renowned academic preparation. Universities regularly cite DP students as the best prepared for higher education
DP graduates are well-equipped to adjust, engage, and succeed. They graduate with analytical, writing, communication, and presentation skills; research experience; excellent organization and time management; the ability to approach a topic from multiple perspectives; and a deep understanding of academic concepts. This provides an excellent foundation for them to prosper at their chosen university.
Do DP Students have time for anything beyond academics?
Absolutely! Most successful Diploma Programme students lead very full lives as upper school students. They are often members of extra-curricular teams and are involved in a wide range of activities. Time management and organization are key skills IB develops in students.
Do DP teachers receive special training?
All DP teachers receive professional development in the IB’s approaches to teaching and approaches to learning from certified IB workshop leaders. This is a requirement for IB World Schools implementing the DP.
How does the IB DP differ form Advanced Placement and other college prep programs?
The IB DP is a two-year comprehensive curriculum with a culminating set of externally graded final exams. IB and Advanced Placement (AP) programs are academically rigorous programs that prepare students for college study. There are important differences, however, in the content and exams. The DP is a cohesive and comprehensive program, not a collection of individual courses as is the case with Advanced Placement. The most important distinguishing factor is the core of the Diploma Programme (CAS, TOK, and extended essay).
A 2015 study obtained by the Educational Policy Improvement Center revealed that students viewed AP only as a means to obtain college credit in high school, while the DP is considered a holistic program that develops strong life-long learners.
Additional studies on program impact are available at www.ibo.org/research.
The Clariden School is a Candidate School* for the IB Diploma Programme. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that The Clariden School believes is important for our students
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org.