International Baccalaureate

The IB Diploma Programme

The International Baccalaureate offers a high quality and challenging educational program for a worldwide community of schools, aiming to create a better, more peaceful world.

Central Catholic High School was authorized as an IB World School on February 3, 2009 and began teaching our first class of students in August, 2009. Central Catholic is the first school in Northwest Ohio and the first Catholic school in the entire state of Ohio to earn this distinction.

The IB Diploma Programme is a comprehensive, internationally recognized curriculum and assessment system for students in their last two years at CCHS.

Students who satisfy the rigorous demands of the IB Diploma Programme demonstrate a strong commitment to learning, both in terms of the mastery of subject content and in the development of the skills and discipline necessary for post secondary success.

The IB Diploma Programme encourages students to:

* Ask challenging questions.
* Learn how to learn.
* Develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture.
* Develop the ability to communicate with and understand people from other countries and cultures.

IB Diploma Programme candidates are required to study six subjects, one subject each from groups one to six. At least three and not more than four of the six subjects are taken at the higher level (HL), the others are at standard level (SL). Each subject is graded on a scale of one point (minimum) to seven points (maximum). The awarding of the diploma requires candidates to meet defined standards and conditions. These include a minimum total of 24 points, and the satisfactory completion of three additional components. The extended essay (EE) of some 4,000 words provides a first experience in preparing an independent research paper. The theory of knowledge (TOK) is an interdisciplinary requirement intended to stimulate critical reflection on knowledge and experience gained outside the classroom. Finally, the CAS component involves compulsory participation in three areas: creativity, action, and service.

Approximately 76% of candidates in the United States are awarded a full diploma. Students who complete the course work, regardless of the IB diploma outcome, still receive a CCHS diploma. In Canada, 92% of candidates receive a full diploma. Throughout the world the average is 83%.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the IB Programme?
The IB Diploma Programme is a challenging two-year curriculum for juniors and seniors. It leads to a qualification that is widely recognized by the worldís leading universities.

Students learn more than a collection of facts. The Diploma Programme prepares students for university and encourages them to:

* Ask challenging questions.
* Learn how to learn.
* Develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture.
* Develop the ability to communicate with and understand people from other countries and cultures.

2) What is the history of the IB curriculum?
Created in 1968, the IB Diploma Programme is a comprehensive two-year international curriculum emphasizing critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and exposure to multiple points of view. Derived from a traditional liberal arts model, the program incorporates the best elements of national systems without being based on any single one.

3) What subjects do IB students study?
Students study six subjects ñ one from each subject area: Language, Second Language, Experimental Science, Individuals and Societies, Mathematics and the Arts. Three subjects are studied at a higher level (240 hours), and the remaining three subjects are studied at the standard level (150 hours) over the two years of the program.

4) Are there any other requirements of the IB Programme?
Yes, students will be expected to participate in summer activities as well as weekend and evening programs. Also, each student must complete 150 hours in Creativity, Action and Service to help balance the academic rigor of this program. Students must take a Theory of Knowledge course and write a 4,000-word essay on a topic of his/her choice.

5) How are teachers specifically prepared to teach the IB curriculum?
Our teachers have been attending training sessions in unique locations with educators from around the world since the summer of 2008. Each educator is required to write his/her own curriculum, within the guidelines of the International Baccalaureate Organization, and submit it for review. When curriculums are revised, every six years, the teachers will attend another training.

6) How does my student get accepted into the IB Programme at Central Catholic High School?
Students need to complete Integrated Math 2 or 3 before entrance into the IB Programme. Also, they will be required to write an essay and go through an interview with the IB team.

7) How does a student earn an International Baccalaureate diploma?
Students complete assessments for each subject that are scored on a scale of 1 to 7. The assessments take a variety of forms, including traditional exams, oral exams, papers, portfolios, experiment data and analysis, and performance. A maximum of three points is awarded for combined performance in the Theory of Knowledge class and the extended essay. Students who complete the Creativity, Action and Service requirements will be granted the IB diploma if they earn 24 points or more. Additionally, students will earn a Central Catholic High School Honorís Diploma if they complete all courses.

8) Why should my student participate in the IB Programme?
This unique program aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Central Catholic High School is committed to encouraging its students to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners with this superior program.

9) Can IB classes be used for college credit?
IB students who earn the diploma can receive (sometimes substantial) college credit for various courses. Like with the AP program, each college decides its own credit award policy, but it is highly likely that the training students receive in this program will prepare them well for college success. A study completed in 2002 showed that 90% of students who completed IB classes in high school completed college in four years, while only 34% of those who did not take an IB course completed college in four years. Check the admissions policies of individual universities for accurate information.

10) Are there additional costs?
Yes, there are additional costs involved, just as there are for students taking Advanced Placement tests. Central Catholic High School is committed to keeping this program affordable for all students by keeping the costs down. Although it is an expensive program, IB students will only be required to pay $250 at the beginning of the junior and senior years (total of $500) to participate in the program.

11) Why did Central Catholic select this program?
Central Catholic High School selected this program because we believe it prepares its students to be life-long learners in the 21st century. The International Baccalaureate Programme has been cited as one of the programs in which to invest in order to improve science and mathematics teaching in the United States. [From Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future, The National Academies Press, 2007.]

12) How can I get additional questions answered?
Please direct questions to our IB Coordinator, Ms. Adele Dahlin, at adahlin@centralcatholic.org or Director of Curriculum, Ms. Marie Arter, at marter@centralcatholic.org. They can also be reached at 419-255-2280

For more information, please visit ibo.org.