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International Baccalaureate
Diploma Program (Grades 11-12)

Overview: The IB Program began at Princess Anne High School during the 1995-96 school year. The first IB Diplomas were awarded in 1998. Applications are due every year in mid-February. An Information Night is usually held a month before applications are due. Check this site or call the school for the exact date.

IB Admissions exams will be given in February and March 2008 (exact dates are on the application). The February exam usually has two sessions, a morning one and an afternoon one to which students will be assigned, one or the other, not both. The March testing session is usually in the morning.

Program: The International Baccalaureate program is designed to meet the highest standards required of any high school in the world. This prestigious program offers a rigorous, comprehensive approach to learning in the last two years of secondary school. The lB program is composed of:

• successful completion of six academic courses in six different subject areas, (see course descriptions)
• completion of an external examination in at least three higher level subject areas and three standard level subject areas,
• completion of a minimum of 150 hours in the CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) Program,
  the writing and submission of an Extended Essay in an area of interest to the student.

Diploma: The International Baccalaureate Organization of Geneva awards an IB Diploma to students who complete all of the above and perform successfully on the six external examinations. Students may earn college credit and advanced standing at institutions of higher learning throughout the world. A complete listing of such recognition policies is available from the lB Coordinator. Embracing the last two years of secondary education, the curriculum of the program incorporates standards that assume a high level of achievement during the prior years. At Princess Anne High School, a Pre-IB curriculum has been developed to prepare students for the full diploma program

Course Descriptions: Our proposed areas of study consist of courses in six subject areas offered at the l lth and/or 12th grade levels. These are grouped in the following manner:

• Group 1: Language A - the student's first language including the study of selections from world literature. (English or native language)
• Group 2: Language B - the student's second language. (French or Spanish)
• Group 3: Individuals and Societies. (European History and Psychology)
• Group 4: Experimental Sciences. (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
• Group 5: Mathematics. (Math Studies, Math Methods, or IB Higher Level Math)
• Group 6: Elective Options - an additional language B, IB Music, IB Art Design, IB Theater Arts, IB Latin, IB Computer Science, or a second subject from Group 3 or Group 4 (Psychology, Chemistry, and Physics).
  
  The Extended Essay (4000 words) is defined as an in-depth study of a limited topic chosen from one of the six groups of the IB curriculum. It is designed to provide the candidate the opportunity to engage in independent research. Students are encouraged to pursue an area of special interest to them. In the junior year, the student decides on a topic and seeks the sponsorship of a faculty advisor. Students are expected to begin work on the project during the junior year and the summer between the junior and senior years under the supervision of an advisor. The extended essay is submitted in October of the senior year.
  
  Theory of Knowledge (ToK) is a year-long course divided between the junior and senior years. It will be offered the second semester of the junior year and the first semester of the senior year. The ToK student examines the philosophical framework of each academic discipline while learning to reflect critically and logically on ideas originating in the other courses.
  
  CAS Program (Creativity, Action, Service) While the Creativity and Action components of CAS are largely met through curricular and extracurricular programs, the Service component is the responsibility of the student. Each diploma candidate must complete a minimum of 150 CAS hours during the last two years of high school. The services will be rendered individually and in groups. Information about service opportunities is available in the IB office. The candidate must submit plans for these important projects to the CAS Coordinator for approval prior to undertaking them.

Exam Procedures: Examinations are taken by students in May and are evaluated externally. Oral and written examinations are prepared by the International Board of Examiners. The Board of Examiners has the final authority on the setting of examinations and the assessment of all candidates for the awarding of diplomas and certificates. Students must take examinations in each of the six subject groups. These exams are assessed on a scale of 1-7. A minimum score of 24, plus satisfactory completion of the Theory of Knowledge course, the CAS activities, and the Extended Essay are required for the awarding of the IB Diploma. Three of the exams are taken at the standard level (SL) and three at the higher level (HL). Generally speaking, the HL exams test more knowledge and are more difficult than the SL exams.Students are well advised to take their HL exams in areas of their greatest strengths. Students may take one or two SL exams at the end of the junior year.

Admission Policy: Academically talented students who are highly motivated will be well challenged by the IB curriculum. Acceptance into Princess Anne High School's lB and Pre-lB programs is based on the following:

• submission of a completed IB application to Princess Anne High School,
• three favorable recommendations from previous academic teachers,
• a review of the student's score on the admissions test
• a review of the student's scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), SAT 9, or a comparable standardized exam,
• a review of the student's transcript,
• recommended minimum GPA of 3.2, and an interview may be required.

Application Procedure: An IB application packet can be secured through the guidance offices of all middle schools in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools system, or from the office of the lB Coordinator, or click the following links for program information and applications. You may download them by right clicking the link, then "save target as" to your hard drive. These are all pdf's.

Academy Application 2008-2009 School Year
Application Timeline

IB Diploma Program Coordinator:
Mrs. Helen Cox, Assistant Principal, International Baccalaureate Magnet School
Princess Anne High School, 4400 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
Phone: (757) 473-5000, Fax: (757) 473-5004, Email: hcox@vbschools.com