International Baccalaureate

 

Welcome to The International Baccalaureate Programme at Tates Creek!

If your teenager wants to make a positive difference in their community, has a love of learning, and is ready to be academically challenged, then the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme is a perfect choice! Tates Creek High School has been an IB Diploma Programme School since August of 2007.  The IB Programme is designed to develop the intellectual, personal, emotional, and social skills students need to navigate an ever-changing global community. As of October 2024 there are over 8,000 IB Programmes being offered worldwide, across over 5,900 schools in over 160 countries (Source).  Students who pursue the IB Diploma will have a strong academic foundation and a work ethic motivated by inquiry, critical thinking, and a desire for compassionate understanding.  All of these traits are highly sought after in today’s 21^st century society.  The IB is one of the most rigorous and relevant College Preparatory Programmes available to high school students in Fayette County.   We encourage you to take a moment to review the IB at TC website.  

About IB ...

The IBO's Diploma Programme (DP) was created in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland.  It is designed for highly motivated secondary school students aged 16 to 19.  The programme was born of efforts to establish a common curriculum and university entry credential for students moving from one country to another.  International educators were motivated by practical considerations but also by an idealistic vision.  They believed that students should share an academic experience that would emphasize critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and exposure to a variety of points of view.

The programme has earned a reputation for rigorous assessment, giving IB diploma holders access to the world's leading universities.  The IB Programme has shown, over the course of 31 years, that students are well prepared for university work.  They are accepted by universities all over the world.

The Diploma Programme is a comprehensive two-year international curriculum for juniors and seniors in high school. The IB Programme at Tates Creek fulfills all Kentucky and Fayette County graduation requirements.

Freshmen and Sophomores are placed in Tates Creek's ACE Pre-Diploma curriculum.  These courses are designed to prepare all students for the full Diploma Programme.  They include a mixture of AP, Advanced, and Elective courses.  Click here for more information.  

Diploma Programme vs. Diploma Courses Option

Tates Creek offers 17 IB courses to juniors and seniors.  By earning a threshold score on an IB exam, students can obtain college credit (threshold score is determined by the college).  

Students have the option of the full Diploma Programme or selecting individual IB courses.  Diploma students take 7 IB courses during their Junior and Senior years in high school.  Students will take 3 or 4 High Level (HL) courses and the remaining at the Standard level (SL).  IB courses are categorized into 6 groups:  Studies in Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and The Arts.  In addition to courses in each group students must satisfy the IB Diploma Core.  Made up of the three required components, the DP core aims to broaden students’ educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and skills.

The three DP Core elements include:

Theory of Knowledge: Students reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we know what we claim to know.

The Extended Essay:  A self-directed independent piece of research concluded with a 4000 word paper.

Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS): Students complete a project related to those three concepts.

If a student doesn't want to take the full Diploma Programme, they can select individual IB courses as a part of a normal high school schedule.  Students may pick as many IB courses as they want.  Students can earn college credit through individual IB courses.  

All Diploma Programme students and students who take 3 or more IB courses are placed in IBIT.
 

Here are the current IB Courses that are offered at Tates Creek (all IB courses are taken over two years):

SL = Standard Level 
HL = High Level

Group 1 (Language and Literature):  English HL

Group 2 (Language Acquisition):  French SL/HL, Latin SL, Spanish SL/HL, Mandarin SL 1&2

Group 3 (Individuals and Societies):  History of the Americas HL, Psychology SL, Business Management SL

Group 4 (Sciences):  Biology HL, Chemistry SL

Group 5 (Mathematics):  Applications and Interpretations SL , Analysis and Approaches SL 

Group 6 (The Arts):  Theatre Arts SL/HL, Music SL

DP Core: Theory of Knowledge (Diploma Programme students only)

If you have any questions, please contact our IB Coordinator John Hatfield