Diploma program (DP)
Grades 11-12
Diploma PROGRAM
Alturas Preparatory Academy is a Candidate School* for the Diploma programme (DP). This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Alturas Preparatory Academy believes is important for our students.
* Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes visit http://www.ibo.org
FAQs
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The six academic subjects that will be studied at Alturas Preparatory Academy include:
1. Language Arts: Language and Literature (HL and SL)
2. Second Language: Spanish (SL only)
3. Individuals and Societies: History (SL only)
4. Experimental Sciences: Physics (HL and SL)
5. Mathematics: Applications & Interpretations (HL and SL)
6. The Arts and Electives: Music and Visual Arts (HL and SL)
Once students complete their classes, they will be required to pass three Higher Level (HL) assessments and three Standard Level (SL) assessments to earn the IB Diploma.
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In addition to the six academic subjects, IB Diploma Candidates must meet three requirements:
1. Theory of Knowledge (TOK): A course designed to unify the six subject areas and develop inquiry and critical thinking. Students learn the development of cognition and identify how and why cultural norms exist.
2. Creativity, Action, Service (CAS): Requires students to be involved in sports, artistic pursuits and community service. The goal of CAS is to provide a balance between academic and social life.
3. Extended Essay: Offers an opportunity to investigate a topic of special interest at length and to become familiar with the research and writing skills expected at the university level. A mentor teacher assists students in developing this mini-thesis.
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• Highly motivated students
• Students with proven academic success
• Students who are intellectually curious
• Students who are ready to be pushed to their academic limit
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IB is a balanced program of study. Course work is completed over two years and students are assessed multiple times over the two years.
Advanced Placement (AP) classes are taken independently of each other. Course work is completed in one year and there is one assessment per class at the end of the academic year.
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There is a fee for the assessments, but SDE’s Advanced Opportunities Program gives each student $4125. These funds can be used to pay for IB Assessments, so students and families won't have to pay them. Read more about Advanced Opportunities.
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Universities in the United States accept IB results for college credit.
The acceptance rate for IB students to highly selective universities is generally twice that of non-IB program students.
IB students are preferred students for universities and are granted early admission notification.
IB students have a higher success rate at the university level, including higher graduation rates, than the non-IB student.