Eastside High School
International Baccalaureate

“Students who elect and satisfy the IB standards in high school are the ones best suited to benefit from the intellectual environment at the University.”

The University of Michigan

Students seeking the International Baccalaureate Diploma pursue a college-level curriculum including six subject areas. Three subject areas are designated “Higher Level (HL)” and three “Standard Level (SL).” The students’ achievement levels in each subject area are monitored by both their teachers (internal assessment) and examiners from around the world (external assessment). Students sit for a series of IB exams in May of their junior and senior years. Eventual scores range from 1 to a high of 7.

Diploma candidates must also submit an independently prepared Extended Essay of approximately 4000 words. The student chooses a topic during the spring of the junior year and works with a mentor to complete the essay early in the senior year. Two other requirements for the Diploma are a course in Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and meeting the Creative/Active/Service (CAS) requirement of 150 hours. Students receive the IB Diploma by earning a minimum of 24 (out of a possible 45) points based on their performance in the six subjects of their program, the Extended Essay, and TOK. Most Eastside students achieve the Diploma with scores in the 30 to 35 point range.

The IB Diploma is recognized by colleges and universities throughout the world for admission, advanced placement, or advanced standing. In Florida the Diploma qualifies students for both college credit and the Bright Futures Scholarships, a program that helps pay for tuition and/or expenses at in-state institutions of higher education.