Who is eligible to enter the IB Diploma Program at Richwoods High School?
Entry into the Richwoods IB program is open to students in the Greater Peoria area who are currently in 8th, 9th, or 10th grade. Those who reside outside of the Peoria Public Schools attendance boundaries must pay a tuition fee. Students must have maintained at least a B average over the past school year and have demonstrated a high level of aptitude on standardized NWEA MAP, or other reading and math assessments. Most importantly, they should be motivated students who genuinely enjoy learning!
What do IB students do during their freshman and sophomore years?
Ninth and tenth graders who are on track to enter the Diploma Program are classified as “pre-IB," which is not a formal program, but a preparatory course of study. Pre-IB students are required to take a challenging slate of enriched-level classes in the core subjects, as well as Government/Economics during their freshman year and an AP Social Sciences class their sophomore year. Pre-IB students are also encouraged to become involved in athletics or other extracurricular activities at Richwoods, as well as the community volunteer opportunities in which the IB students participate.
How do colleges and universities view the Diploma Program (DP)?
The DP is internationally recognized as representing one of the highest standards in university preparatory education. More than 1,000 colleges and universities in North America have recognition policies on how they weigh it in admissions, advanced standing, college credit and scholarships.
Visit our Testimonials page for quotes from a range of college administrators about the Diploma Program. A list of colleges and universities that grant credit, scholarships and/or advanced standing for DP diplomas and certificates is available at www.ibo.org.
What kind of student is a good candidate for the DP?
The DP is a rigorous course of study for motivated students. That said, prior academic success is less an indicator of ability to earn the diploma than are a student’s determination to do his or her best, willingness to be organized in order to complete the work while leading a full, balanced life, and a strong commitment to learning in and beyond the classroom.
Do DP students have time for anything beyond academics?
Absolutely. Most successful Diploma Program students lead very full lives. They are often members of athletic teams and involved in a wide range of activities. Time management and organization are key skills the 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.
Does implementing an IB program mean my child’s school will not teach local or national standards such as the Common Core?
The IB is committed to making sure that students in IB programs meet and exceed local or national standards. With the implementation of any IB program, schools are required to examine their curriculum carefully to ensure that there is alignment with local, state or national standards. More information on the IB and the Common Core is available at www.ibo.org.
How does the IB DP differ from other university preparatory programs such as Advanced Placement and Cambridge?
The IB DP is a two-year comprehensive curriculum with a culminating set of externally graded final exams. IB, Advanced Placement (AP) and other college-preparatory curriculums like Cambridge are all university preparatory, academically rigorous programs. 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 Program (CAS, TOK and extended essay).
Can you give a specific example of how the DP prepared students for college?
A 2012 study by the Consortium for Chicago School Research found that Diploma Program students who graduated from 12 Chicago public schools were more likely to attend college, attend a selective college and persist in college for 2 years than a matched comparison group. Additional studies on program impact are available at www.ibo.org/research.
How can I learn more about the IB and DP?
Entry into the Richwoods IB program is open to students in the Greater Peoria area who are currently in 8th, 9th, or 10th grade. Those who reside outside of the Peoria Public Schools attendance boundaries must pay a tuition fee. Students must have maintained at least a B average over the past school year and have demonstrated a high level of aptitude on standardized NWEA MAP, or other reading and math assessments. Most importantly, they should be motivated students who genuinely enjoy learning!
What do IB students do during their freshman and sophomore years?
Ninth and tenth graders who are on track to enter the Diploma Program are classified as “pre-IB," which is not a formal program, but a preparatory course of study. Pre-IB students are required to take a challenging slate of enriched-level classes in the core subjects, as well as Government/Economics during their freshman year and an AP Social Sciences class their sophomore year. Pre-IB students are also encouraged to become involved in athletics or other extracurricular activities at Richwoods, as well as the community volunteer opportunities in which the IB students participate.
How do colleges and universities view the Diploma Program (DP)?
The DP is internationally recognized as representing one of the highest standards in university preparatory education. More than 1,000 colleges and universities in North America have recognition policies on how they weigh it in admissions, advanced standing, college credit and scholarships.
Visit our Testimonials page for quotes from a range of college administrators about the Diploma Program. A list of colleges and universities that grant credit, scholarships and/or advanced standing for DP diplomas and certificates is available at www.ibo.org.
What kind of student is a good candidate for the DP?
The DP is a rigorous course of study for motivated students. That said, prior academic success is less an indicator of ability to earn the diploma than are a student’s determination to do his or her best, willingness to be organized in order to complete the work while leading a full, balanced life, and a strong commitment to learning in and beyond the classroom.
Do DP students have time for anything beyond academics?
Absolutely. Most successful Diploma Program students lead very full lives. They are often members of athletic teams and involved in a wide range of activities. Time management and organization are key skills the 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.
Does implementing an IB program mean my child’s school will not teach local or national standards such as the Common Core?
The IB is committed to making sure that students in IB programs meet and exceed local or national standards. With the implementation of any IB program, schools are required to examine their curriculum carefully to ensure that there is alignment with local, state or national standards. More information on the IB and the Common Core is available at www.ibo.org.
How does the IB DP differ from other university preparatory programs such as Advanced Placement and Cambridge?
The IB DP is a two-year comprehensive curriculum with a culminating set of externally graded final exams. IB, Advanced Placement (AP) and other college-preparatory curriculums like Cambridge are all university preparatory, academically rigorous programs. 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 Program (CAS, TOK and extended essay).
Can you give a specific example of how the DP prepared students for college?
A 2012 study by the Consortium for Chicago School Research found that Diploma Program students who graduated from 12 Chicago public schools were more likely to attend college, attend a selective college and persist in college for 2 years than a matched comparison group. Additional studies on program impact are available at www.ibo.org/research.
How can I learn more about the IB and DP?
- Visit the IB website at www.ibo.org
- Attend school meetings and events
- Speak with your school’s DP coordinator
- Speak with your child’s DP classroom teachers.