Sign into this siteRegister for this site
{IB Logo} INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
Washington-Lee High School
An IB World School Since 1996
{2010}
About the Program

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is housed at Washington-Lee High School and is open to all Arlington Public School students.  Washington-Lee was first authorized to teach the Diploma Program in the 1996-1997.  The IB is a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding students understanding of the world.  The IB now works with 3,001 schools in 139 countries.  Students who have earned the IB Diploma attend universities throughout the world.
 
The IB Program is a rigorous, two-year comprehensive curriculum for grades 11 and 12, that seeks to prepare students for post-secondary study through courses and instructional techniques that emphasize:
  • Critical thinking
  • Application of knowledge
  • An interdisciplinary approach with a strong international focus
Students complete course work in IB subjects and sit for examinations, similar to the way Advanced Placement courses are taught.  To receive the IB Diploma, students must successfully take one course from each of six groups, three courses at Higher Level and three courses at Standard Level. These courses are chosen from the six different groups prescribed by the IB Hexagon .  This requirement ensures a broad exposure across the liberal arts spectrum.  Additionally, students will complete a course in Theory of Knowledge, participate in approximately 150 hours of Creativity, Action and Service activities, and write an extended essay of approximately 4,000 words.
 
Diploma Grading System

All IB Diploma subjects are graded according to the following scale:

Diploma Grade

Description

7

Excellent

6

Very Good

5

Good

4

Satisfactory

3

Weak

2

Poor

1

Very Poor

 
The Extended Essay and the Theory of Knowledge course are jointly graded with a maximum of 3 points + CAS completion.  Diploma candidates add their points from the six subjects together with any additional points obtained from the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge.  Students need a minimum of 24 points to obtain a Diploma and must not score a 1 or 2 in any Higher Level subject.  Any grade below a 4 must be balanced by another grade above a 4 at the same level.  A score of 30 or above is considered to be good.  Scores of 35 or higher are excellent.  A perfect diploma score is 45 points.  Students who do not wish to pursue the full IB Diploma may also take individual IB courses for which they will earn certificates upon successful completion of each course.