IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

The International Baccalaureate was developed in 1968 in an effort to establish preparatory school standards that could be recognized by European universities as rigorous and effective in preparing students for higher level studies. It has been in American schools since 1980 and in Norcross High School since 1997. Its influence on American universities is supported by an IBO 2011 survey that shows IB seniors in the US are accepted into premier universities more often than the general admission pool of applicants.

Highly motivated and academically focused students will find a rigorous and diverse educational experience in IB at NHS. The IB Diploma program is offered to eligible students who are entering their junior year of school. The program is designed to be an integrated interdisciplinary curriculum that focuses students as much on how they learn as what they learn. The course work is advanced and promotes the students intellectual, personal and social development. Students may choose to participate at the full diploma level or at the course level.

The centerpiece of the program is Theory of Knowledge (ToK), an interdisciplinary course intended to stimulate critical reflection upon the knowledge and experience gained inside and outside the classroom. ToK, which is available to full diploma program students, unifies the academic subjects and encourages appreciation of other cultural perspectives.