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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
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The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, created in 1968, is a very rigorous academic program for juniors and seniors at Desert Mountain High School, which has been an authorized school by the International Baccalaureate Organization since 1999. The rigorous nature of the program is widely recognized by many selective and highly selective colleges and universities. IB encourages students to: ask challenging questions, learn how to learn, develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture, and develop the ability to communicate with and understand people from other countries and cultures.
While each component of the Diploma Programme has specific aims and assessment objectives, the distinctive aims of the program as a whole are to: provide an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, promote international understanding, educate the whole person, emphasizing intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth and develop inquiry and thinking skills, and the capacity to reflect upon and to evaluate actions critically.
To be accredited by the IBO, schools go through an intensive application process and are reviewed every five years to make sure they are applying the IB standards. IB currently has authorized about 1300 schools in 100 different countries.
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The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) program aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.
During the junior and senior years, students are required to take 3 Higher Level (HL) classes and 3 Standard Level (SL) classes. The HL classes require two years of study during the student’s junior and senior years. The SL classes require one year of study at either the junior or senior year. During the junior year, most students take the first year of 3 HL classes and complete 2 SL classes, and in their senior year, they complete the second year of 3 HL classes and complete 1 SL class.
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Classes Offered
Group 1 Language A:
English Literature HL
Group 2 Language B:
French SL
Spanish HL/SL
Mandarin SL
Group 3 Individuals and Society:
History of the Americas HL/SL
Psychology SL
Business and Management SL
Economics SL
Group 4 Experimental Sciences:
Biology HL/SL
Physics SL
Chemistry HL/SL
Group 5 Mathematics/Computer Science:
Mathematics Analysis and Approaches HL/SL
Mathematics Applications and Interpretations HL/SL
Computer Science SL
Group 6 The Arts:
Visual Arts HL/SL
Music SL
Theater HL/SL
Dance SL -
Requirements to Earn an IB Diploma
The IB diploma is an additional diploma to the SUSD diploma. If students do not earn enough points to earn an IB diploma, they will still earn an SUSD diploma as long as they satisfy all of the SUSD graduation requirements. They are two separate diplomas.
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Sample Four-Year Schedule
Ninth Grade IB MYP Schedule
English
IB MYP Honors English ISocial Studies
IB MYP Honors World HistoryWorld Language
Spanish I, French I or Mandarin I- IB students would test in their world language their senior year
IB MYP Spanish II, French II, Mandarin II- IB students would test in their world language their junior yearScience
Physics First (for students concurrently enrolled in Algebra 1) or Honors Physics First (for students concurrently enrolled in Geometery, Honors Geometry/Trigonometry or higher)Math
Algebra 1- These students would take their IB math test in their senior year
Geometry or Honors Geometry/Trigonometry- These students would have the opportunity to take Mathematic HL junior and senior years or test in Mathematics SL their junior year.One Elective Class
Tenth Grade IB MYP Schedule
English
IB MYP Honors English II HonorsSocial Studies
IB MYP Honors American/Arizona HistoryWorld Language
IB MYP Spanish II or III, French II or III or Mandarin II or IIIScience
Biology or Honors Biology, Chemistry or Honors Chemistry
*This science class should not be the same science class the student will take at the HL level junior and senior years.Math
Geometry, Honors Geometry/Trigonometry, Algebra, Algebra 2 Honors or other classes upon recommendationOne Elective Class
Eleventh Grade IB DP Schedule
HL Class #1
English HLHL Classes #2 and #3- Choose 2
Spanish HL, History HL, Mathematics Analysis and Approaches HL, Mathematics Applications and Interpretations HL, Chemistry HL, Biology HL, Visual Arts HL or Theater HLSL Classes #1 and #2- Choose 2
Spanish SL, French SL, Mandarin SL, Psychology SL, Business and Management SL, Economics SL, History SL, Computer Science SL, Biology SL, Chemistry SL (Honors Chemistry 1 is a pre-requisite), Physics SL, Mathematics Analysis and Approaches SL, Mathematics Applications and Interprestions SL, Visual Arts SL, Music SL, Dance SL or Theater SLOne Elective Class
Twelfth Grade IB DP Schedule
HL Class #1
English HLHL Classes #2 and #3
Continued on from junior yearSL Class #3- Choose 1
Spanish SL, French SL, Mandarin SL, Psychology SL, Business and Management SL, Economics SL, History SL, Computer Science SL, Biology SL, Chemistry SL (Honors Chemistry 1 is a pre-requisite), Mathematics Analysis and Approaches SL, Mathematics Applications and Interprestions SL, Visual Arts SL, Music SL, Dance SL or Theater SLTheory of Knowledge
One Elective Class
*Students must also take Government/Economics prior to graduation
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Three Core Components of IB Diploma Program
Creativity, Action and Service
CAS requirement takes seriously the importance of life outside the world of academics and provides a counterbalance. Creativity is interpreted broadly to include a wide range of arts and activities as well as the creativity students demonstrate in designing and implementing service projects. Action can include not only participation in individual and team sports but also taking part in local or international projects. Service encompasses both community and social service activities. Some examples include helping children with special needs, visiting hospitals and working with refugees or homeless people. A system of self-evaluation encourages students to reflect on the benefits of CAS participation to themselves and to others.
Here is a powerpoint presentation that explains CAS at DMHS.
Extended Essay
The Extended Essay is an independent, self-directed 4000 word research paper. The EE helps provide research preparation that is required at the college level, and it gives students an opportunity for an in-depth study of a topic that interests them. Emphasis is placed on formulating an appropriate research question, engaging in a personal exploration of the topic, communicating ideas and developing an argument. Students will ask a faculty mentor to support and supervise them throughout the process with advice and guidance.
Theory of Knowledge
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is a required interdisciplinary class that offers students an opportunity to reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing and on areas of knowledge while considering the role and nature of knowledge in their own culture, in the cultures of others and in the wider world. Also, it prompts students to be aware of themselves as thinkers, encouraging them to become more acquainted with the complexity of knowledge and recognize the need to act responsibly in an increasingly interconnected but uncertain world.
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Average Points/Grade Obtained by Candidates Who Passed the Diploma
Average Points/Grade Obtained by Candidates Who Passed the Diploma
Year Average Total Points Average Grade Highest Total Points Earned 2020 30 4.94 37 2019 30 4.86 38 2018 31 4.86 42 2017 32 5.09 38 2016 30 4.80 39 2015 32 5.04 41 2014
31
4.91
43
2013 32 5.08 39 2012 32 4.98 40 2011 31 4.80 39 2010
30
4.76
35
2009 30 4.71 38 2008 31 5.04 41 2007 30 4.72 44 2006
31
5.10
42
2005 29 4.66 36 2004 30 4.88 36 2003 31 5.07 41 2002 31 4.97 36 2001 29 4.65 36 2000 28 4.41 31 -
IB Diplomas Earned
IB Diplomas Earned
Class Diplomas Earned Diploma Candidates Success Rate 2020 40 45 88% 2019 34 41 83% 2018 34 43 79% 2017 49 57 86% 2016 58 75 77% 2015
48
58
80%
2014
85
97
88%
2013 58 62 94% 2012 58 60 97% 2011 45 52 86% 2010
41
54
75%
2009 42 46 91% 2008 46 49 94% 2007 45 53 85% 2006
51
57
89%
2005 32 39 82% 2004 26 31 84% 2003 31 35 88% 2002 19 24 79% 2001 13 18 72% -
National Merit Semi-Finalist
National Merit Semi- Finalist
Class DMHS IB DMHS 2021 5 3 2020 7 5 2019 11 4 2018 7 5 2017 11 10 2016 8 3 2015 10 6 2014 14 11 2013 10 6 2012 11 9 2011 11 9 2010
9
4
2009 11 7 2008 16 11 2007 4 4 2006
16
15
2005 9 6 2004 6 2 2003 8 7 2002 8 4 2001 4 3 2000 3 2 -
Where do DMHS IB Graduates Attend Post-Secondary Education? (2004-2017)
From 2004 - 2016, DMHS IB graduates have attended (number of DMHS IB students attending that school)
School Name Number of Students Albright College
1
American University 2 Amherst College 3 Arizona State University and/or Barrett Honors College 200 Babson College
3
Barnard College 1 Baylor University 4
Belmont University 1 Berklee College of Music 1 Boston University
11
Bowdoin 1 Brandeis University 4 Brigham Young University 1 Brown University
2
Bryn Mawr College 1 California Institute of Technology 1 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo 2 Camberwell College of Arts- London 1 Carleton College
1
Carnegie Mellon University 2 Case Western Reserve University 1 Claremont McKenna College 1 Clarkson University
1
Colorado College 1 Colorado State University- Fort Collins 4
Columbia University 4 Cornell University
5
Creighton University 1 Dalhousie University, Halifax 1 Dartmouth University 6
Diablo Valley College 1 Duke University
5
Emory University 4 Fordham University 1 Furman University 1 Georgetown University
1
George Washington University 10 Georgia Tech University 2 Gonzaga University 1 Grand Canyon University
2
Grove City College 1 Lake Forest College 2 Hamline University 1 Harvard University
1
Harvey Mudd College 3 Haverford College 1 Iowa State University 1 Ithaca College
1
Kenyon College 2 Lehigh University 1 Loyola Marymount University 2 Macalester College
1
Marist University 1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 6 Middlebury College 4 Mount Holyoke College
1
New York University 14 Northeastern University 1 Northern Arizona University 10 Northwestern University
8
Nova Southeastern 1 Oberlin College 1 Occidental College 3 Ohio State University 1 Ohio Wesleyan University 1 Oxford College at Emory University
1
Pace University 1 Pennsylvania State University 1 Pepperdine University 2 Pitzer College
1
Portland State University 1 Princeton University 1 Purdue University 1 Queen Mary University, London 1 Reed College 3 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2
Rhode Island School of Design 1 Rice University 5 Rose Hulman Institute of Technology 1 Saint Mary's University 1
Sarah Lawrence College 1 Savannah College of Art and Design 2 Scottsdale Community College 3 School for the Art Institute of Chicago 1 Scripps College
2
Seattle Pacific University 1 Seattle University 1 Smith College 3 Southern Methodist University 10 Stanford University 5 Stetson University
1
Syracuse University 1 Texas A&M University 2 Texas Christian University 2 Tufts University 3 Tulane University
3
United States Air Force Academy 2 United States Marine Corp 1 United States Military Academy-West Point 1 United States Naval Academy 2 University of Alabama 2 University of Arizona 179 University of British Colombia 1 Universita Bocconi- Italy
1
University of California- Berkeley 11 University of California-Davis 1 University of California- Irvine 1 University of California- Los Angeles 13 University of California- San Diego
3
University of California- Santa Barbara 3 University of Chicago 1 University of Colorado- Boulder 6 University of Denver 1 University of Guelph 1 University of Idaho
1
University of Illinois- Urbana/Champaign 3 University of Maryland 2 University of Massachusetts- Amherst 1 University of Michigan
7
University of Missouri- Columbia 1 University of Missouri- Kansas City 1 University of Northern Colorado 1 University of Notre Dame 3 University of Pennsylvania 4 University of Pittsburgh
1
University of Portland 1 University of Puget Sound 2 University of Richmond 1 University of St. Andrews- United Kingdom
1
University of San Diego 6 University of San Francisco 1 University of Southern California 19 University of Texas-Austin 1 University of Tulsa 3 University of Victoria- British Colombia University of Washington
5
University of Wisconsin- Madison 1 Vanderbilt University 7 Vassar College 1 Virginia Tech University
1
Wake Forest University 1 Washington State University 1 Washington University-St. Louis 4 Wellesley College 1 Wesleyan University 1 Yale University 2