IB Resources

The International Baccalaureate Web site

Frequently asked questions about IB

Hearing From Parents and Students

Hilary Wilder, a professor of education at William Paterson University and parent of an IB Diploma graduate from West Morris Mendham High School, answers some questions about the IB, and what it was like for her son. And here's a link to the West Morris Mendham High School IB Boosters site's FAQ.

And from former IB students:

“I was admitted to all of the universities to which I applied and offered scholarships, I am now a student at Guilford College in North Carolina on the presidential scholarship, where because of my IB scores I was able to enter with 12 credits. I am majoring in psychology. I loved my experience as an IB student, even all the long nights working on papers and studying. It is an experience I would never give up, nor would I ever discourage any student from studying in the IB programme.”

Laura Marie Myerchin
School: Cajon High School, San Bernardino, CA, USA
Year of Graduation: 2001

“…I can't imagine a better experience then the journey I have made since graduating from the IB programme. I learned a lot at St. Pete High, but I have to say in retrospect that the course in Latin American History left the biggest impression on me. Exploring the United States' tragic relationship with the countries of Latin America caused me to think critically for the first time about the power of reporting facts accurately (or inaccurately, for that matter) and placing them in a realistic context. I try to keep that lesson in mind in all the work that I do.”
Adam Elend
School: St. Petersburg High School, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Year of graduation: 1995


“The International Baccalaureate Programme is one of the best things American education has ever experienced. It is not merely a fad programme with a high sounding name. This programme teaches students to think outside the box, to speak in public and to manage a successful career while milking life for all it is worth. We need to applaud (the people who run our public schools) and support the International Baccalaureate programme because it is the only light at the end of the tunnel for our education system."

Melissa Sue Dossey
School: Ridgeview High School, Orange Park, Florida, USA
Year of Graduation: 2004
From: “Letters from Readers,” Florida Times-Union, 5 March, 2004

Hearing From Schools

"The International Baccalaureate programme is a critical component in our efforts to accelerate learning for all students. It helps our school district define high standards and high expectations for student performance. We find the curriculum to be unparalleled and because there is an external evaluation of student performance with established worldwide standards, we are provided with an audit of our increase in rigor."

Eric Smith
Former Superintendent
Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Schools


Langston Hughes Middle School: How one diverse middle school implemented their MYP Program. See also our Q&A with James Albright, their MYP Coordinator.

David Starr Jordan High School: A struggling IB Diploma Program in a working class community in Long Beach, CA discusses how they overcame many challenges.

Princeton High School: 20th Anniversary Reflections for Princeton High School, in Cincinnati, OH, on the impact on AP and IB enrollment.

How does a high school with strong AP offerings bring in IB? A case study from Binghamton High School, which has successfully implemented both programs.

A Test Worth Teaching To by Robert Rothman (PDF): In this article for the American Educator Robert Rothman explores why the IB Diploma exam is "a test worth teaching to"--creating a balance between depth and comprehensiveness.

Jay Mathews, education reporter for the Washington Post and compiler of Newsweek's Best High School list, offers an in-depth profile of how Mount Vernon High School, a highly diverse school in Fairfax County, VA brought in the IB Diploma Program--their struggles and their accomplishments. He profiles administrators, principals, teachers, and students--it's a great read! Supertest: How the International Baccalaureate Can Strengthen Our Schools Jay Matthews and Ian Hill