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Parents and students will find International Baccalaureate programming at Hinkley High School, East Middle School, and Elkhart Elementary School.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program is a K-12 program.  Elementary students (grades K-5) will study the Primary Years Program (PYP); students in grades 6-10 will study the Middle Years Program (MYP); high school students in grades 11 and 12 have the choice between the Diploma Program (DP) or the Career Pathways Program (CP).  Each program  offers a rigorous academic framework that empowers excellence in character, achievement and a contribution to a better world. 

  • Schools offering International Baccalaureate Programming will work to foster equitable access to education for all students.  Students studying in an IB Program can earn college credits, industry certifications and career experiences that will help them to be ready for the changing demands of the future.  The IB Program gives students distinct advantages by building their critical thinking skills, nurturing their curiosity and their ability to solve complex problems.   
  • Teachers in the International Baccalaureate Program are committed to creating rich learning environments that value diversity, fosters critical thinking and encourages creative problem solving while empowering  every student to become a  confident, compassionate, globally-minded learner. 
  • Students in the International Baccalaureate Program will be inspired to think beyond the four walls of their classroom to become the type of student who will thrive in life.  Students in an IB program will take charge of their learning while working collaboratively with peers.  

IB provides students with a balanced education in languages, social studies, sciences, mathematics and electives. The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a global leader in international education—developing inquiring, knowledgeable, confident, and caring young people who will want to take ownership in their own learning.  IB strives to help students develop  future-ready skills that will help them to make a difference and thrive in a world that is changing fast.

IB instruction is divided into four programmes:

  • The Diploma Programme (DP) for high school juniors and seniors, grades 11 and 12;
  • The Career-related Programme (CP) for high school juniors and seniors, grades 11 and 12;
  • The Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students in grades 6 through 10;
  • The Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students in preschool through 5th grade.

Students at International Baccalaureate® (IB) World Schools are given a unique, challenging and diverse education. IB learners are:

  • encouraged to think critically and solve complex problems
  • drive their own learning
  • a core part in educational programs that can lead them to some of the highest-ranking universities around the world
  • more culturally aware through the development of a second language
  • able to engage with people in an increasingly globalized, rapidly changing world.

International Baccalaureate® (IB) World 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 programs of international education and rigorous assessment.

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

 To learn more about IB programming, please visit the International Baccalaureate website, or contact the International Baccalaureate Program Coordinator at the school.

Elkhart Elementary School, Julie Carpenter

East Middle School, Danielle White

Hinkley High School, Alison Brown-Sandberg

 Discover more about the IB's educational philosophy.


THE PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME (PYP)

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Primary Years Programme (PYP)

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) for children aged 3 - 12, develops active, self-regulated learners in a transdisciplinary curriculum framework.

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The PYP marks the start of a lifelong journey. It develops caring and culturally aware children aged 3 – 12 to become active participants in their own learning.

Learn more about the Primary Years Programme.

The IB Primary Years Programme is for students in elementary school. Currently, Elkhart Elementary offers an authorized PYP.

The Primary Years Programme focuses on the development of a student as a whole child and applies the following broad themes to learning content:

  • Who we are
  • Where we are in place and time
  • How we express ourselves
  • How the world works
  • How we organize ourselves
  • Sharing the planet

These six themes are designed to enhance learning in the traditional subject areas. They encourage students to view themselves as global citizens and create a transdisciplinary framework to encourage thinking that 'goes beyond' the confines of the traditional, standards-based curriculum.

For more information, contact Elkhart Elementary School at 303-340-3050.

"Every day is a new adventure. There has not been one assignment that I didn't really get into and think about. I can tell that the teachers love to teach and the students love to learn." -- Loretta Miller, IB student

THE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME (MYP)

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Middle Years Programme (MYP)

Learn more about the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP): preparing students aged 11-16 to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers.

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Building a solid academic foundation, the MYP develops students’ confidence in managing their own learning and making connections between their learning in the classroom and the real world.

Learn more about the Middle Years Programme.

The Middle Years Programme is designed for students in grades 6 through 10 and offered at both Hinkley High School and East Middle School. Both schools currently offer the fully accredited International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme.

The MYP provides an academic structure for a challenging curriculum that encourages students to see the real-world relevance of their education, learn to think critically and model themselves after the IB Learner Profile.

The MYP curriculum includes English, a foreign language, humanities, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical education and technology. In their final year of MYP, students engage in a Personal Project that utilizes their interests as well as everything they have learned in IB.

IB Coordinator Debbie Getzel says, "MYP students are learning how to become 21st-century global citizens. IB is really focused on the education of the whole child."

IB students learn beyond the standard curriculum; they learn how to learn - a skill they will use their entire lives. "Learning how to learn and how to evaluate information critically is as important as learning facts," says East Middle IB Coordinator Tonya Thompson.

For more information about the APS Middle Years Programmes, contact East Middle School at 303-340-0660, or Hinkley High School at 303-340-1500.

"This year our class advanced very far in Social Studies. We covered everything from Ancient Greece, to the Renaissance, to the Russian Revolution. One of the things I learned most about was the French Revolution. We were to do a report on a certain revolution. I learned that America was lucky to have a revolution that turned out so clean and worked so well. The French Revolution started out based on America's, but turned into a huge mess resulting in a military dictatorship. Writing a report is the best way to learn about something."
-- Taylor Peterson, student

"This year learning algebra was really fun. There's all these new things you can do with numbers and exponents. I think offering algebra in the Middle Years Programme is a good idea." -- Justin Scalucci, student

THE DIPLOMA YEARS PROGRAMME (DP)

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Diploma Programme (DP)

Find out more about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) for students aged 16-19, including information on pathways to university and employment and on who can offer the programme.

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A future-ready programme that builds students’ inquiring mindset, fosters their desire to learn, and prepares them to excel at their careers and lead meaningful lives.

Learn more about the Diploma Programme.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a comprehensive, two-year curriculum designed for juniors and seniors seeking a challenging educational experience with a strong emphasis on international understanding and responsible citizenship. As they near the end of the Programme, IB Diploma students undergo a final examination process that mimics college exams and prepares them for success at the university and life beyond.

IB Diploma Requirements

To receive an IB diploma, students must take and pass world standard exams in six subject areas, fulfill a community service requirement, submit an extended essay and follow an interdisciplinary course in Theory of Knowledge.

College Preparation

Upon successful completion of the Programme, students receive a diploma that is recognized by leading universities around the world. Many schools, including the University of Colorado and other major universities in Colorado, even grant college credit for students who score well on their IB exams and earn their IB Diplomas.

Most IB Diploma students consider it ample preparation for college.

Additional Information

Hinkley High School currently offers the Diploma Programme for the 2023-202424 school year. Hinkley is building capacity to offer the Career-Related Programme during the 2024-2025 school year.

For more information, contact Hinkley at 303-340-1500.

"There is a big difference between the students who were in IB and those who were not. The IB kids are ready for what college expects." -- Former Hinkley IB student Aakah S.

THE CAREER-RELATED PROGRAMME (CP)

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Career-related Programme (CP)

Learn more about the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (CP) designed for students aged 16-19. Find resources and curriculum information and learn how to offer the programme.

international baccalaureate career related programme logo

A unique programme for students in their final school years. It equips them with future-ready skills and prepares them to follow their career pathways—combining academic subjects with their own professional interests.

Learn more about the Career-related Programme.

Also offered at Hinkley High School starting fall 2024, the Career-related Programme. CP students undertake a minimum of two IB Diploma Programme (DP) courses, a core consisting of four components and a career-related study.

What's the difference between the Career-related Programme (CP) and the Diploma Programme (DP)?

It is a blend of both pathways! And, the CP offers a pathway to employment.

The Diploma Programme courses provide the theoretical underpinning and academic rigor of the programme.

The Career-related Programme, or career-related study, further supports the programme’s academic strength and provides practical, real-world approaches to learning. The CP core helps students to develop skills and competencies required for lifelong learning.

21st century life places complex demands on graduates looking for work – so enabling students to become self-confident, skilled and career-ready learners must be an integral part of their education. This is all a part of the CP programme.

Read more about the CP curriculum.

To learn more about what IB has to offer students in Aurora Public Schools, please visit the International Baccalaureate website.