Founded in 1968 in Switzerland, the International Baccalaureate (IB) aims to do more than the curricula of other types of schools by developing inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who are motivated to succeed. Now, with over 4,000 IB schools throughout the world, there are over 1 million students whose families have chosen the unique academic rigor and opportunity for personal development of the program as the ideal educational experience for their child.*
The International Baccalaureate Program consists of four programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP for elementary aged students); the Middle Years Programme (MYP for students in grades 6-10); the Diploma Programme (DP for students in grades 11-12); and the fairly new Career-Related Programme (CP for students aged 16-19).
Families with a student in the programmes learn about the ten IB learner profile character traits that are each fostered by the curriculum. These characteristics go beyond academics and, when achieved, work together creating a well-balanced individual well-equipped to thrive in an ever-changing world. An IB learner is:
- an Inquirer
- Knowledgeable
- a Thinker
- a Communicator
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- a Risk-taker
- Balanced
- Reflective
Learn more about the IB Learner Profile and watch a video here.
Each IB program provides the framework for a curriculum that helps students to become active, caring, lifelong learners prepared to thrive in an international world. As students move up grades the curriculum encourages connections between studies and the real world; by graduation a student will have developed knowledge that is both broad and deep and be better prepared to excel intellectually, emotionally, physically, and ethically.*
Faculty and administration at an IB school are lifelong learners as well and receive continual training and updated information about best practices at seminars, conventions, online, and at training sessions held locally, nationally, and worldwide.
To offer one of the programs, a school must receive authorization from the IB which is applied for by the school in a similar but rigorous process like accreditation. Once a school receives authorization for one of the programs, the school becomes an IB World School. Over 60{ecf245a61dbeb35a782c86c44f242cdc7d98fa7632a752b76c5afca81a7454ba} of IB World Schools are located in the Americas: North, Central, and South America. And, as more and more educators realize the strength of the IB programs, the number of World Schools continues to grow. In the past 6 years, the number of IB World Schools has grown by nearly 50{ecf245a61dbeb35a782c86c44f242cdc7d98fa7632a752b76c5afca81a7454ba}. (Read more Facts and Figures here.)
To earn the distinction of being an IB World Continuum School like Island Pacific Academy, the school must offer all three of the first programs: the PYP, MYP, and DP. There are only two IB World Continuum Schools in Hawaii and both are on Oahu: IPA and Le Jardin Academy. IPA’s location in Kapolei makes it convenient to communities in West, Central, and Leeward Oahu and for parents whose work or daily commute may take them through those areas. Le Jardin’s location in Kailua is a draw for families living on Oahu’s Windward side.
Is an IB school the right fit for your student? Click here to go to the IB website page where a “Parent Packet” can be downloaded.
(*All information about the IB and its programmes included in this posting has been taken from the IB website.)
