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What is an
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is a rigorous
pre-university course of study leading to examinations, that meets
the needs of highly motivated secondary school students. The
IB Diploma Program is designed as a comprehensive two-year
curriculum (grades 11 and 12) that allows its graduates to
demonstrate through objective and universal examinations that their
education and academic preparation is the equal of any offered in
the world.
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What is the
difference between the IB Diploma Program and the regular Banneker
Program?
In many ways both the IB Diploma Program and the Banneker Program
are similar. Both require rigorous courses of study. Both require
students to perform Community Service. Both include a challenging
research project as a graduation requirement. The major difference
between the two programs is that IB Diploma candidates must pass
internationally standardized examinations that are assessed by
examiners throughout the world. Each year more than 30,000 students
are assessed by the International
Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) with 80% earning the IB
Diploma.
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Why bring the IB
Program to Banneker? Isn't Banneker already a fine school?
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School is nationally recognized for
its high standards and its outstanding graduates. We achieved this
reputation by always trying to provide our students with the best
educational opportunities we could. The International Baccalaureate
Diploma program is a logical extension of our program. For many
years the IB program was only available at private schools, like the
Washington International School. In the past decade, many public
school systems have recognized the advantages of offering an IB
program to their students. Currently, the Montgomery County, MD and
Fairfax County, VA school systems have fine IB programs in several
of their schools. The District of Columbia Public Schools wants to
offer its students the same opportunity as the suburban
jurisdictions and are encouraging and assisting the development of
IB in several of its schools. Since Banneker has always been a Model
Academic school, we hope to be the model for IB programs in many
District elementary, middle and high schools.
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What are the
advantages in earning an IB Diploma?
IB diploma holders gain admission to selective universities
throughout the world. These include well-known European and American
institutions as Oxford, Yale and the Sorbonne along with prestigious
universities in Latin America and the Asia/Pacific region. Colleges
and universities also offer advanced standing and course credit to
students with strong examination results. As the worlds of business,
communications, technology and law become more international in
scope, the education that prepares a young person to enter these
fields must also be more international in its scope.
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Do colleges and
universities award credit and advanced standing to students who earn
the International Baccalaureate Diploma?
Many colleges and universities throughout both the United States and
the world recognize the International Baccalaureate Diploma as the
most prestigious credential a high school student can acquire. They
are eager to include IB Diploma holders in their incoming classes.
To that end, universities offer a variety of incentives to convince
IB Diploma holders to matriculate at their institutions. Some offer
up to a full year of credit, allowing the student to enter as a
sophomore. Perhaps most importantly, earning an International
Baccalaureate Diploma practically guarantees a student admission to
the finest colleges and universities in the world.
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What are the
admission requirements to the Banneker Preparatory IB Program and
the proposed IB Diploma program?
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School does a fine job in recruiting
and selecting intelligent and promising students to its program.
Because of this, the Banneker Preparatory IB Program (Pre-IB) is
open to all Banneker students who complete the application and
participate in the interview process. At the end of a Pre-IB
student's sophomore year, the student will apply for admission into
the IB Diploma program. If the student and his/her parents, teachers
and counselors agree that the student has shown evidence of likely
earning an IB Diploma, the student will begin the IB Diploma program
in the junior year.
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What happens if I
enter the Pre-IB program and then decide it is not for me? Can I
leave the Pre-IB program and still graduate on time with my class?
Students who enter the Pre-IB program in the 9th and 10th grade may
elect to leave the program with parental permission. Exiting should
occur at the end of a semester. If the student leaves the Pre-IB
program, the student must make up any courses he/she has missed from
the regular Banneker program. These courses should be able to be
made up as electives in grades 11 and 12.
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What happens if I
enter the IB Diploma program in the 11th grade and then decide to
leave the program?
Entering the IB Diploma program is a serious undertaking. A student
should not agree to attempt to earn the IB Diploma unless the
student has shown success in the Pre-IB program, discussed the
responsibilities and advantages of the program thoroughly with
his/her family and teachers and is willing to commit completely to
the program. If a student elects to leave the IB Diploma program
during or after the 11th grade, it may be difficult for the student
to make up the course work missed from the regular Banneker program
and graduate on time.
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What teachers are
expected to participate in the Pre-IB program? Did the teachers
receive special training?
Banneker is a small school with a small faculty. As with every
school program, all members of the faculty will participate in the
Pre-IB program. During the past two years many teachers participated
in IB training courses. Eventually all Banneker teachers will
receive special IB training. Mr. Nickelson has been appointed the
Coordinator of the IB program at Banneker. Mr. Nickelson will be
working closely with all students and teachers who participate in
the program.
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Do all Banneker
students have to participate in the Pre-IB program?
While all Banneker students are invited to participate in the Pre-IB
program, it is not a requirement. The regular Banneker program of
study, including Honors and AP courses, will be available to those
who chose not to participate in the Pre-IB program.
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When will Banneker
be able to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program?
As of August 31, 2002, Banneker officially offered the International
Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
From our first IB
graduating class of 2004, we are extremely pleased to announce that
14 of our 23 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma candidates
earned the IB Diploma! This is about two thirds of the 2004 IB
candidates -- a remarkable accomplishment in the eyes of the IB
Organization. Most schools garner very few diplomas in their first
graduating class of candidates.
