Welcome to the IB Program at Renton High School

Malcolm Collie is the IB Coordinator at Renton High School.  If you have any questions about the program – or if you want to share comments or concerns – please contact Mr. Collie at malcolm.collie@rentonschools.us 

WELCOME!

Welcome to the International Baccalaureate site for the Renton School District IB Program located at Renton High School. This site provides information for parents, students and IB staff in the following areas:

• An Overview of the Renton High School IB Diploma Program

• IBO Exam Registration Process for current IB Juniors and Seniors

• Parent Meetings and Events

• CAS Requirements (see Documents page)

• May 2020 Exam Schedule (see Documents page)

• Links to IB Program policies of RHS (see IBO)

• Links to official IBO sites and other helpful sites (see Links page)

OVERVIEW OF THE RHS IB PROGRAM

Renton High School hosts a successful and growing IB Program.  Since IBO authorization in 2014, over 60 RHS students have earned the coveted IB Diploma, and over 300 have been awarded at least one IB Course Certificate. In fact, most RHS Juniors and Seniors are now taking at least 1 IB class each year.

All students in grades 9-10 are prepared for success in IB courses, which are available for students to take during the 11th and 12th grades. 

Currently, 377 Juniors and Seniors are registered for one or more IB classes, and over 40 students in grades 11-12 are currently working towards the full-IB diploma!  Clearly, many of our students are finding success in the IB program. 

The IB Diploma Program is designed as an academically challenging and balanced program of education that prepares students for success at university and life beyond.  The IBO program provides a package of education that balances subject breadth and depth while encouraging international mindedness, starting with a foundation in a student’s own language and culture. The IBO program has gained a reputation for the rigor of its program – and its high international standards – making this a qualification welcomed by universities worldwide.

IB Courses Offered at RHS

All IB courses are open to all RHS students; students register for specific IB courses during Spring course registration.

• English: IB Language & Literature (HL)

• Math Studies (SL), and Mathematics (SL)

• Spanish (SL ab initio option)

• History of the Americas (HL)

• Biology (SL)

• Business Management (HL)

• Psychology (HL)

• Visual Arts (HL)

For SY 2020-21, IB Math Studies will no longer be offered, but we will be adding Mathematics (HL). We will also be adding Spanish B (SL) and offering course certificate students the option to test in SL Business Management, Visual Arts, and Psychology. Finally, we will be adding SL science options: Computer Science, Environmental Systems and Societies, and Sport, Exercise, and Health Science.

In addition to courses from the list above, full-IB diploma candidates also take the Theory of Knowledge course (also open to course certificate candidates), engage in a specialized research paper in a subject area of choice (the Extended Essay), and commit to Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) experiences.

IB learners strive to be inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, caring, balanced and reflective.

Students take written examinations at the end of the diploma program, which are marked by external IB examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in the school, which are either initially marked by teachers and then moderated by external examiners or sent directly to world-wide examination sites. Marks awarded for each course range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest).  Students can also be awarded up to three additional points for their combined results in Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay.  The IB diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points (in addition to allowing for IBO point requirements). Assessment is criterion based, which means student performance is measured against pre-specified assessment criteria based on the aims and objectives of each subject curriculum, rather than the performance of other students taking the same examinations.

IB is a challenging program that demands effort from both motivated students and teachers.  The RHS IB staff is committed to an extensive program of IB professional development that, in addition to three levels of workshop training, also includes access to an online program resource center which provides program documentation, examples of student work, and acts as a hub for an international community of teachers.

For further information on the program, please see the PowerPoint found in Documents or go to the IBO site found at: www.ibo.org

Taking IB Exams

If a student is in an IB course – and that course ends with a formal IB exam – we fully expect that student to register for – and complete – the IB exam for that course.  A 100% fee waiver for IB exam fees is available for students who qualify for the free-and-reduced lunch program. For this reason, we urge all IB families to complete the free-and-reduced lunch paperwork.  Exam invoices are distributed to all students in November; students can cancel exams until January 14th.  We ask all students to complete payment prior to IB exams. 

Looking for Exam Information (dates, rules, etc.) for the May 2020 Exams? See the DOCUMENTS page of this site.