IB
Information | Entrance Conditions | IB Preparation
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program provides a rigorous liberal arts education for highly motivated and academically proficient Watkins Mill High School (WMHS) students in grade 11 and 12. It represents a deliberate compromise between the demand for specialization in the high school curriculum and the emphasis for breadth of knowledge. The IB program is unique in that it provides a cohesive interdisciplinary education leading to a diploma that is recognized at universities throughout the world. It is a challenging course of study that prepares young people for post-secondary education. Students are often given special attention by colleges when their college applications are reviewed, and may receive college credit for their IB coursework.
An IB student pursues studies in English, foreign language, experimental sciences, mathematics, history and a sixth subject elective. In addition to the course work and passing grades on examinations in these six subjects, students complete 150 hours of CAS (Creativity, Action, Service), an extended essay of 4,000 words, and the course "Theory of Knowledge" (ToK). Teachers provide interdisciplinary instruction whereby students study common processes, themes and materials within and across the subject areas. The examinations in each subject, the Theory of Knowledge culminating activity, and the extended essay are all graded externally and/or evaluated by staff from IB schools throughout the world. Students who participate fulfill the Maryland State Department of Education graduation requirements as well as IB Diploma requirements.
At Watkins Mill, the IB Program has an informal pre-IB component for grades 9 and 10, with the recognized IB component for grades 11 and 12. Students prepare for IB by selecting Pre-IB/Honors courses in grades 9 and 10. Students at Watkins Mill do not need to pass entrance exams to participate, but they should be aware of several entrance "conditions" that will help assure their success in the IB program.
