Introduction and History

The International Baccalaureate Program is designed to meet the highest standards required of any high school student in the world. Successful completion of the program earns the student a diploma recognized for university admission throughout the world and for course credit and advanced placement at leading colleges and universities in the United States (e.g., Stanford, Princeton, Columbia, Harvard, University of Michigan, Miami University, Ohio State University, etc.) The greatest value, however, lies in the program's intrinsic worth as a challenge and as a symbol of the greater achievement to which some students and teachers aspire.

The IB Program is a system of syllabuses setting forth the objectives in each course and examinations based on the concept that general education at the upper secondary level should encompass the development of all the main powers of the mind through which persons interpret, modify, and enjoy the environment. The intent is that students learn how to analyze and reach considered conclusions about people, their languages and literature, their ways in society and the scientific forces in their environment.

Embracing the last two years of secondary education, the curriculum of the program incorporates standards that assume a high level of achievement during prior years. The subjects are arranged according to six areas: Language A, Language B, Individuals and Societies, Experimental Sciences, Mathematics, and an Elective Area. The IB Diploma candidate must also take a unique course, the Theory of Knowledge, meet the CAS community service requirement and write an extended essay.

The idea of an International Baccalaureate - that is, of an international university college prep curriculum which includes a series of external examinations which could be taken and recognized in any country - was first conceived by a group of educators in the International School of Geneva in conjunction with other international schools in Wales, New York, Teharan, Copenhagen, Paris, Frankfort, and Montevideo. Among the concerns of the founders were the ever increasing emphasis on education as the mere delivery of information, the related fragmentation of knowledge, and the crowding out of aesthetic and creative experience.

In 1963, a grant from the Twentieth Century Fund made it possible for the International Schools Association to set up a group of educators to continue planning for an International Baccalaureate. Their studies and discussions and the programs that resulted also received substantial support from the Ford Foundation and The International Baccalaureate Program was formally initiated in Geneva in 1965.

By 1980, twenty national governments were providing financial support and the International Baccalaureate Programs were operating in five continents and thirty-six countries. Currently, there are 765 IB Diploma Schools (High Schools) in 95 countries, 117 Middle Year Program Schools (Middle Schools) in 32 countries and 11 Primary Year Program Schools (Primary Schools) in 8 countries. Over 12,000 candidates of 125 different nationalities have taken the examinations. These have been admitted to more than 1,700 universities, colleges, or other institutes of higher education, in many different countries of the world.

The International Baccalaureate Office in Geneva is represented in Canada and the United States by International Baccalaureate North America, Inc. (IBNA), a tax exempt, publicly supported corporation charted in New York.

Program and Curriculum

The six areas and the subjects which are taught in the IB Program at Firestone High School are as follows:

1. Language A

(The native language of the student including the study of world literature) (Students with native languages other than English may need to employ a private tutor.)

2. Language B (a spoken foreign language)

a. French
b. Spanish

3. Individuals and Societies (Social Studies)

a. History of the Americas

4. Experimental Sciences

a. Biology
b. Chemistry
c. Physics

5. Mathematics (integrated approach)

a. Year 1
b. Year 2

6. Elective Area (drawn from)

a. Art and Design
b. ITGS
c. Second Science
d. Third language

GRADE:	9	10	11	12
ENGLISH (4)	Honors Lit/Comp I	Honors Lit/Comp II	IB English 11	IB English 12
FOREIGN LANGUAGE	German I Latin I French I Spanish I Pre IB French II Pre IB Spanish II Pre IB French III Pre IB Spanish III	German II Latin II French II Spanish II Pre IB French III Pre IB Spanish III Pre IB French IV Pre IB Spanish IV	IB French Ab Initio IB Spanish Ab Initio IB French 11 IB Spanish 11	IB French Ab Initio IB Spanish Ab Initio IB French 12 IB Spanish 12
SOCIAL STUDIES (4)	Honors Social Studies (recommended)	Honors World History	History of the Americas 11	History of the Americas 12
SCIENCE (4)	Pre IB Biology	Pre IB Chemistry	IB Biology 11 IB Chemistry 11	IB Biology 12 IB Chemistry 12
MATHEMATICS (4)	Honors Geometry Core Algebra	Honors Algebra II/Trig Core Geometry	Math Studies 11 Math Methods 11	Math Studies 12 Math Methods 12
IB ELECTIVE Sixth Subject			IB Elective: Fine Arts (1 yr.) or Second Science or Third Language or ITGS or IB Physics (1 yr.)	IB Elective: Fine Arts (1 yr.) or Second Science or Third Language or ITGS or IB Physics (1 yr.)
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS	Phys. Ed. I Health (9th or 10th)	Phys. Ed. II Health (9th or 10th)	Extended Essay TOK 11 CAS	Extended Essay TOK 12 CAS

International Baccalaureate grades are weighted as follows:

A grade of A in an IB course earns 5 quality points when figuring grade-point averages A grade of B in an IB course earns 4 quality points when figuring grade-point averages

Additional Requirements

1. Extended Essay of Independent Project in one of the subjects, including a 4,000 word extended essay. This is an in-depth study of a limited topic within a subject. It provides an opportunity to engage in independent research at an introductory level. Preparation and writing time should be about 40 hours.

2.The Theory of Knowledge Course of 100 hours extended over two years including the nature of scientific proof, the social sciences, the nature of values, and the essence of truth. In fact, the Theory of Knowledge is the seventh college level course needed to meet the Diploma requirements.

3. A Creative, Active, Service Project (CAS) actively pursued at least 3 to 4 hours a week or the equivalent over the two years in either a balanced range of different activities or in a single project. Evaluation by the school and self-evaluation by the student will be an ongoing process throughout the two-year diploma period.

In selecting the six subjects, the candidate must decide on three to be studied at the higher level and three at the subsidiary level. Currently, Language A, History, Chemistry and Biology are offered at the higher level at Firestone. Individuals with an international educational background may take their native language as a Language A and English as a language A or B. For further details, contact the IB Coordinator.

Written examinations are given to a fixed schedule in May. Beginning in early August, transcripts of the candidate's performance in the IB program are distributed to universities as requested and to the students.

A student unable to fulfill the requirements of the Diploma can receive, upon graduation from the school, a certificate for IB examinations successfully taken. The certificate with qualifying grades is also given consideration by universities for possible individual course credit.

The IB Advantage|Recent Firestone Results

1. World-wide accepted program and curriculum.
2. Participation in a total, advanced, diploma program which includes college preparation and academic skills, as well as aesthetic and creative experiences.
3. Enhanced admission chances to the most prestigious universities throughout the world.
4. Possible course credit and advanced standing up to the sophomore level at many of these same universities.
5. Increased opportunities to earn scholarships.
6. Active participation in the educational process - small group projects, extensive use of seminars.
7. Development of high level critical thinking skills and educational sophistication.
8. Gaining understanding of other nations and developing world leadership skills.
9. Instruction by highly motivated and competent teachers.
10. Development of better time management, experience more independent study.
11. Participate with other academically motivated individuals who are together because of common goals.
12. Individual growth and increased self-confidence through meeting the demanding challenge of a program which symbolizes the greater achievement to which students and teachers can aspire.

IB Test Scores range from 1 (low) to 7 (high). 4 is the passing score.

% Grade 4 and above	% Diploma Pass Rate
World -- 86.0	82.35
US -- 83.28	77.85
Ohio -- 67.51	70.91
Firestone High School --86.7	86.21

Ohio Statistics

• 6 IB Schools
• 252 Exams taken (231 from Firestone)
• 55 Diploma Candidates (29 candidates from FHS)
• 39 IB Diplomas earned ( 25 or 64.1% from FHS)

Firestone Statistical Summary 2002

• 54 Juniors or Seniors tested (45 in 2001)
• 29 Diploma Candidates (19 in 2001)
• 25 Diplomas earned (15 in 2001)