International Baccalaureate (IB)
IB Coordinator: Amy Walker amywalker@smsd.org
Important Links
IB Mission Statement
The International Baccalaureate 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 organization 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.
International Baccalaureate SM Northwest
The Shawnee Mission Northwest International Baccalaureate Program began operations during the fall semester of the 2008-2009 school term with 39 students. Over several years, the program has grown. The IB program at SM Northwest features academic courses in every core area including the arts. Our students are able to choose between a variety of social studies, math, and world language courses as a part of their IB curriculum, in addition to taking an advanced World Literature course.
We pride ourselves on having an open enrollment program that actively seeks out students to enroll in one or more IB programs based on their individual talents and interests. Northwest offers both the full diploma option and the course option for all students interested in becoming involved in the IB program.
Diploma Candidates participate in six IB courses. They also take a philosophy course called Theory of Knowledge, complete the Creativity, Action, and Service Program (C.A.S.), and write a research paper called the Extended Essay during their junior and senior years.
Course students may take any IB class offered at SM Northwest but do not complete the extras such as the Theory of Knowledge, C.A.S. program, or Extended Essay.
Visit the IB Curriculum page for more information about the specifics of course options.