Mission Statement
 
The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the IBO works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
 

Frequently Asked Questions
 
What is the International Baccalaureate Programme?
The International Baccalaureate Programme (IB) is a challenging academic liberal arts curriculum. Focusing on the learning process, its goal is to teach students how to learn, how to analyze, and how to reach considered conclusions about society and the world in which we live. The IB diploma is an academic passport, recognized around the world as a symbol of intellectual promise and achievement. Mount Pleasant High School is the first public school in Delaware authorized to teach the IB Diploma Programme.

What are the advantages of IB?
· Challenging learning environment surrounded by intellectual peers
· Rigorous academic preparation in the humanities, mathematics, and sciences
· Exposure to outstanding teachers who have received specialized IB training
· Opportunities to participate in a wide variety of academic, cultural, and community service activities
· Internationally acclaimed educational program
· Shared experiences that create a special camaraderie among the students and their teachers
· Development of time management and study skills
· Advanced placement and/or sophomore standing in many prestigious colleges and universities

How do I apply to the IB Programme?
Admission to the 11th and 12th grade Diploma Programme is through successful completion of the Pre-International Baccalaureate Programme (PIB) or the Middle Years Programme (MYP).
 
Who should apply?
The IB Programme is open to all qualified students seeking a challenging, rigorous educational experience with a unique international focus and a high standard of achievement. All students must complete Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and three levels of French or Spanish prior to 11th grade. Students who are successful in the Middle Years Programme at Talley Middle School will automatically be transitioned into the MYP/PIB Diploma Programme pathway. Students who are not in the MYP should apply to the Pre-IB Programme in the fall of 8th grade. Applications are available online or at Mount Pleasant High School. Information meetings are held each fall. Dates and times are posted on the MPHS web site: www.mphs.brandywine.k12.de.us.

Minimum guidelines for acceptance into the PIB Diploma Programme pathway are:
· Honor roll status in 7th and 8th grades
· 80th percentile or above on standardized tests
· Evaluations from 5 academic teachers
· Strong motivation and individual commitment
· Participation in extracurricular activities
· Interview with the IB Coordinator
· Completion of a writing assessment
· Completion of one year of Spanish or French and Algebra I recommended

How are faculty members selected?
A select staff is chosen based on experience and academic credentials. These teachers are noted for their ability to motivate and inspire students. Faculty members attend special IB workshops and attend ongoing in-service programs to maintain a cohesive and integrated curriculum approach.
 
What is the typical school day for IB students?
IB students attend Mount Pleasant the same hours as all MPHS students.

Are IB students isolated from others at MPHS?
Academic classes are comprised only of IB students. However, they share the same common areas during lunch periods and participate with non-IB students in elective classes and extracurricular activities.

What if an IB student withdraws from the Programme?
All 9th and 10th grade PIB students are expected to stay in the Programme at least one year. If a student then wishes to leave, he/she will be rescheduled into Honors or AP classes. Once students enter grade 11, they are expected to complete their specific certificate requirements or the full Diploma Programme.

Are there any fees for the IB Programme?
There are no fees at the PIB level. However, 11th and 12th grade Diploma Programme candidates must take six examinations. Examination fees for the IB diploma are approximately $200 in the junior year and $400 in the senior year. Costs vary for certificate candidates depending on the number of examinations they take.

Is transportation available?
For students outside of Mount Pleasant’s feeder pattern, bus service will be provided from the Mount Pleasant bus stop closest to their home. There is one afternoon bus stop at the Friends of Brandywine Hundred Library on Foulk Road.

Where is the IB course schedule?
The IB courses offered during the 2006-2007 school year are on our Education page.  Click here for the complete list of IB courses.
 

See Delaforum article - March 8, 2004

 

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