RPHS's IB Newsletter: Issue 3
So What Should My Student Be Taking?
Course Schedules
As you will see below, IB Diploma Candidates (students working towards the IB diploma) do not have as many options as other students, but they can still personalize parts of their schedules based on their interests and career goals.
Please remember that students who do not want to do the full Diploma Program can still take IB classes for certificates. This means they can pick and choose the IB classes they want and sit for the IB examinations with the hope of scoring high enough to earn college credit (similar to the way our AP classes work). Students and parents should understand that score requirements often differ between colleges, and some colleges do not yet offer credit for IB coursework
What to Take Next Year
Incoming 7th graders interested in becoming an IB Diploma Candidate should take the following courses:
- Advanced Spanish 7 (1 semester)
- Advanced 7th Grade Math
- Advanced English Language Arts 7
Incoming 8th graders interested in becoming an IB Diploma Candidate should take the following courses:
- Advanced Spanish 8 (full year)
- Algebra I
- Advanced English Language Arts 8 or LEAP
Incoming 9th graders interested in becoming an IB Diploma Candidate should take the following courses:
- Adv. English I
- Adv. Spanish I
- Adv. American History
- Pre-AP Biology
- Advanced Geometry
Incoming 10th graders interested in becoming an IB Diploma Candidate should take the following courses:
- Adv. English II
- Adv. Spanish II
- AP World History
- Advanced Chemistry
- Advanced Algebra II
Students in high school should also work on getting their required elective credits (Health, PE, Practical Arts, etc.) out of the way. A good way to knock out some elective credits and lighten a student's load is to take summer school classes. Incoming 9th graders usually can take PE or Health class, and incoming 10th graders can take Personal Finance during the summer.
Diploma Candidate's Course of Study Options
Option #1-with Visual Arts elective
9th Grade:
Advanced English I
Advanced Spanish I
Advanced American History
Pre-AP Biology
Advanced Geometry
Ele. of Art (1 sem)/Prin. of Desgn (1 sem)
PE (1 sem)/Health (1 sem)
10th Grade:
Advanced English II
Advanced Spanish II
AP World History
Chemistry
Advanced Algebra II
Level 3 Art Class
Pract. Art (1 sem)/Per. Finan. (1 sem)
11th Grade:
IB English 1
IB Spanish 1
IB History of the Americas 1
IB Biology 1
IB Math Studies 1 or Math SL 1
IB Visual Arts 1
PE (Sem 1)/Theory of Knowledge (TOK) (Sem 2)
12th Grade:
IB English 2
IB Spanish 2
IB History of the Americas 2
IB Biology 2
IB Math Studies 2 or Math SL 2
IB Visual Arts 2
TOK (Sem 1)/Free Elective (Sem 2)
Option #2 (with Band)
with Psychology elective
9th Grade:
Advanced English I
Advanced Spanish I
Advanced American History
Pre-AP Biology
Advanced Geometry
Band
PE (1 sem)/Health (1 sem)
10th Grade:
Advanced English II
Advanced Spanish II
AP World History
Chemistry
Advanced Algebra II
Band
Pract. Art (1 sem)/Per. Finan. (1 sem)
11th Grade:
IB English 1
IB Spanish 1
IB History of the Americas 1
IB Biology 1
IB Math Studies 1 or Math SL 1
Band
IB Psychology
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) (Sem 2) Zero Hour
12th Grade:
IB English 2
IB Spanish 2
IB History of the Americas 2
IB Biology 2
IB Math Studies 2 or Math SL 2
Band
TOK Sem 1/PE (Sem 2)
Option #3 -with Theater elective
9th Grade:
Advanced English I
Advanced Spanish I
Advanced American History
Pre-AP Biology
Advanced Geometry
Prac. Art (1 sem)/Open Elective (1 sem)
PE (1 sem)/Health (1 sem)
10th Grade:
Advanced English II
Advanced Spanish II
AP World History
Chemistry
Advanced Algebra II
Theater Classes (Sem1/Sem 2)
Pract. Art (1 sem)/Per. Finan. (1 sem)
11th Grade:
IB English 1
IB Spanish 1
IB History of the Americas 1
IB Biology 1
IB Math Studies 1 or Math SL 1
IB Theater 1
PE (Sem 1)/Theory of Knowledge (TOK) (Sem 2)
12th Grade:
IB English 2
IB Spanish 2
IB History of the Americas 2
IB Biology 2
IB Math Studies 2 or Math SL 2
IB Theater 2
TOK (Sem 1)/Free Elective (Sem 2)
Option #4-with Chemistry as IB elective
9th Grade:
Advanced English I
Advanced Spanish I
Advanced American History
Pre-AP Biology
Advanced Geometry
Prac. Art (1 sem)/Open Elective (1 sem)
PE (1 sem)/Health (1 sem)
10th Grade:
Advanced English II
Advanced Spanish II
AP World History
Chemistry
Advanced Algebra II
Fine Arts (Sem1/Sem 2)
Pract. Art (1 sem)/Per. Finan. (1 sem)
11th Grade:
IB English 1
IB Spanish 1
IB History of the Americas 1
IB Biology 1
IB Math Studies 1 or Math SL 1
IB Chemistry 1
PE (Sem 1)/Theory of Knowledge (TOK) (Sem 2)
12th Grade:
IB English 2
IB Spanish 2
IB History of the Americas 2
IB Biology 2
IB Math Studies 2 or Math SL 2
IB Chemistry 2
TOK (Sem 1)/Free Elective (Sem 2)
A Note about Zero Hour
Students who graduate in the Class of 2019 (current 7th graders) and beyond. . .
Upon entering 9th grade, they will be able to take Spanish II (skipping Spanish I) and take Spanish III in 10th grade. They will then take IB Spanish 1 as a junior and IB Spanish 2 as a senior.
Have Questions?
Steven Meek
IB Coordinator-RPHS
816-892-1408
Find more information at:
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