Homewood-Flossmoor High School. IB Prep Academy & IB Diploma Programme:

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Homewood-Flossmoor High School IB Prep Academy & IB Diploma Programme: Four-Year Overview HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 233 999 Kedzie Avenue, Flossmoor, IL 60422 www.hfhighschool.

1 Homewood-Flossmoor High School IB Prep Academy & IB Diploma Programme: Four-Year Overview HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT Kedzie Avenue, Flossmoor, IL For further information, contact: Dr. Nancy Spaniak, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Professional Development, , or Mr. Matthew Knoepke, IB Diploma Programme Coordinator, ,

An Introduction to the H-F IB Prep Academy & IB Diploma Programme The H-F IB Prep Academy and IB Diploma Programme align with Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School s (H-F) mission to uphold the

2 An Introduction to the H-F IB Prep Academy & IB Diploma Programme The H-F IB Prep Academy and IB Diploma Programme align with Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School s (H-F) mission to uphold the highest standards of intellectual growth. In general, most schools do a good job of supporting struggling students but do not provide enough enrichment for academically talented students. While H-F traditionally has serviced these students well through its honors and Advanced Placement (AP) program, the school wanted to do more for its highest academic performers. As a result, a committee of administrators and teachers worked for more than a year to develop the H-F IB Prep Academy/IB Diploma Programme. Established in the fall of 2011, the H-F IB Prep Academy (formerly called the H-F Gifted Academy) is designed for students whose mathematical achievement and scores on Homewood-Flossmoor High School s 8th Grade entrance exam rank them at the top of their class. Via an application process, a cohort of academically talented rising 9th Graders is selected to enter the H-F IB Prep Academy to experience honors courses, along with an accelerated Advanced Placement program, during their freshmen and sophomore years. AP a pillar of Homewood-Flossmoor High School s nationally recognized curricular framework is regarded around the world for its rigorous preparation of students for high-level university work. Students who successfully complete the IB Prep Academy enter the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme as juniors. Overall, the H-F IB Prep Academy, combined with the IB Diploma Programme, immerses its members in the two most challenging and internationally recognized high school curricula: AP and IB. 1 After an extensive multi-year application process, the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) granted IB World School status to Homewood-Flossmoor High School in the spring of As a result, H-F became the first public high school in the Chicago suburbs to offer the IB Diploma Programme. Homewood-Flossmoor High School proudly joined the exclusive group of approximately 3,000 IB World Schools that dot the globe across 138 countries. A nonprofit organization, IBO was founded in 1968 in response to the demands of European diplomats who were seeking a rigorous, relevant, and consistent academic program for their children as they traveled from country to country. The IB Diploma Programme provides upper-level high school students with an academically challenging and balanced program of study to develop students content knowledge in a systematic fashion as it fosters their maturity. IB Dipoma Programme graduates are recognized internationally as well-rounded, top students who possess strong critical thinking, research, writing and oral communication skills.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Curriculum Framework As illustrated at right, the IB Diploma Programme curriculum framework consists of courses in six groups, which are offered either

3 International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Curriculum Framework As illustrated at right, the IB Diploma Programme curriculum framework consists of courses in six groups, which are offered either as one-year standard level (SL) courses or two-year higher level (HL) courses. Within the six groups, Homewood- Flossmoor High School offers the following courses: Group 1 Studies in Language and Literature: HL English Group 2 Language Acquisition: SL French, SL Spanish and SL Mandarin (scheduled to first be offered in ) Group 3 Individuals and Societies: SL Economics Group 4 Sciences: HL Physics Group 5 Mathematics: HL Math Group 6 The Arts: SL Art and SL Music In addition to earning their H-F diploma, IB Diploma Programme students have the opportunity to earn an IB Diploma upon graduation. Highly prestigious, the IB Diploma is in the words of the International Baccalaureate website a passport to higher education across the globe. IB students who wish to earn an IB Diploma must take courses and pass rigorous IB assessments in all six groups. Additionally, they must enroll in the two-year Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, compose a 4,000-word Extended Essay (EE), and complete the Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) requirement outside of the school day. Although H-F IB Diploma Programme students are not required to seek an IB Diploma, they all must take IB courses in Groups 1 through 5. Non-IB Diploma-seeking students who earn successful scores on IB end-of-course exams are awarded Certification of Mastery, which is recognized by universities around the world for college course credit. While encouraged to complete the TOK, EE, and CAS requirements, IB certificate students students not working towards the IB Diploma are not obliged to do so. 2

4 H-F IB Prep Academy & IB Diploma Programme Four-Year Course Overview IB Graduation Requirements SUMMER 1 GRADE 9 SUMMER 2 GRADE 10 SUMMER 3 GRADE 11 SUMMER 4 GRADE 12 IB Group 1: English English 1 (#1900) AP Language & Composition (#1901) IB HL English 1 (#1902) IB HL English 2 (#1903) IB Group 2: Foreign Language Spanish 2, French 2 or Mandarin 2 Spanish 2 if needed: FULL CREDIT Spanish 3, French 3 or Mandarin 3 Spanish 4, French 4 or Mandarin 4 SL French (#1921), SL Spanish (#1920) or SL Mandarin IB Group 3: Social Science AP World History (#1910) AP U.S. History (#1911) U.S. Government & Politics OPTIONAL: FULL.5 CREDIT SL Economics (#1917) U.S. Government AP U.S. Gov & & Politics Politics, OPTIONAL: Music Ensemble or FULL.5 CREDIT H or AP Elective IB Group 4: Science Biology OPTIONAL: FULL CREDIT Biology, Chemistry or H or AP Elective Chemistry OPTIONAL: FULL CREDIT Chemistry, AP U.S. Gov & Pol or H or AP Elective IB HL Physics 1 (#1940) IB HL Physics 2 (#1941) IB Group 5: Math Geometry if needed: FULL CREDIT Algebra 2/Trig (#1930) Pre-Calculus (#1931) IB HL Math 1: Calculus AB (#1934) or IB HL Math 1: Calculus BC (#1932) IB HL Math 2: Advanced Math Topics (#1933) IB Group 6: Arts Students not pursuing IB Diploma can take other AP & courses Music Ensemble, Art Studio or H or AP Elective Music Ensemble, Art Studio or H or AP Elective Music Ensemble, Art Studio or H or AP Elective IB SL Art (#1961), IB SL Music (#1960) or H or AP Elective PE/Health/ Driver Ed Students not pursuing IB Diploma are encouraged but not required to take TOK 1 & 2 PE/Health PE/Driver Education IB Theory of Knowledge 1 (#1914), or H or AP Elective IB Theory of Knowledge 2 (#1915), or H or AP Elective Yellow-highlighted courses fulfill H-F core course graduation requirements course numbers indicate cohort courses in which only H-F Prep Academy / IB Diploma Programme students are enrolled. 3

H-F IB Prep Academy Freshman Year Overview During 9th Grade, all H-F IB Prep Academy students take English 1, AP World History, Algebra 2/Trig, a World Language, one semester of Freshman Physical

5 H-F IB Prep Academy Freshman Year Overview During 9th Grade, all H-F IB Prep Academy students take English 1, AP World History, Algebra 2/Trig, a World Language, one semester of Freshman Physical Education and one semester of Health. Students who have not taken Geometry in junior high must do so in Summer School prior to their freshman year. Students not enrolled in Summer School Geometry are encouraged but not required to take Biology in Summer School. Those who take Biology in Summer School take Chemistry during 9th Grade. The H-F IB Prep Academy freshman cohort courses include English 1 (#1900), AP World History (#1910) and Algebra 2/Trig (#1930). To explain, only IB Prep Academy students are enrolled in course sections with 1900 numbers. Additionally, only one teacher instructs each of these 1900 courses; therefore, the IB Prep Academy freshmen all share the same teachers for English 1H, AP World History and Algebra 2/Trig. The IB Prep Academy teacher team members collaborate with one another to establish common student expectations and norms, as well as to coordinate major projects and exams. Additionally, they articulate with their sophomore, junior and senior year teacher team counterparts in order to ensure a smooth transition from one grade to the next. Along with the above-mentioned courses, all H-F IB Prep Academy students take either French, Mandarin or Spanish. Most have completed the first level of these courses in junior high; therefore, these students all enroll in French 2, Mandarin 2 or Spanish 2 as 9th Graders. Students who have not yet taken a World Language course enroll in Spanish 1 as 9th Graders. Prior to 10th Grade, these 4 students take Spanish 2 in Summer School in order to be prepared to enroll in Spanish 3 with the other IB Prep Academy students their sophomore year. Finally, H-F IB Prep Academy students seeking an IB Diploma must take four years of either art or music; therefore, IB Diploma-seeking students take art courses (Photography, Graphic Design or Art Studio) or music performance courses (Band, Choir or Orchestra) freshmen through junior year in order to prepare for senior year s IB SL Art or IB SL Music. IB certificate students those not pursuing the IB Diploma choose other elective courses to fill each year s art/music slot. Exam taken at the end of freshman year: AP World History Homewood-Flossmoor High School pays for all AP and IB exams taken by students in the required H-F IB Prep Academy and IB Diploma Programme AP and IB courses.

H-F IB Prep Academy Sophomore Year Overview As sophomores, all H-F IB Prep Academy students enroll in AP English Language & Composition; French 3, Mandarin 3, or Spanish 3 ; AP U.S. History; Pre-Calculus ; one semester of Sophomore Physical Education; and one semester of Driver Education.

6 H-F IB Prep Academy Sophomore Year Overview As sophomores, all H-F IB Prep Academy students enroll in AP English Language & Composition; French 3, Mandarin 3, or Spanish 3 ; AP U.S. History; Pre-Calculus ; one semester of Sophomore Physical Education; and one semester of Driver Education. Students who have taken Biology in 9th Grade may take Chemistry either in Summer School prior to 10th Grade or in 10th Grade. Students who take Chemistry prior to 10th Grade are encouraged to take an AP or Science elective or AP U.S. Government & Politics as sophomores; however, they may also use this slot to take an elective from another discipline. H-F IB Prep Academy sophomores seeking the IB Diploma must also enroll in either an art studio or music performance course. IB certificate students may use this art/music slot to enroll in either one yearlong elective or two semester electives. The sophomore year H-F IB Prep Academy cohort courses are AP Language & Composition (#1901), AP U.S. History (#1911) and Pre-Calculus (#1931). Exams taken at the end of sophomore year: AP Language & Composition AP U.S. History The summer prior to their junior year, these students may elect to take the semester-long U.S. Government & Politics course. H-F IB Prep Academy Students say... My courses are interesting and challenging. I feel that I can actually use what I ve learned at school not only for tests and quizzes but in real-life situations, too. I enjoy how many of our classes share inter-related topics. Government, for example, is reoccurring in both AP U.S. and AP Language and Composition. As a result, we will have knowledgeable exposure. 5

7 H-F IB Diploma Programme Junior Year Overview Students who have successfully completed the twoyear H-F IB Prep Academy begin their IB Diploma Programme coursework in the 11th Grade. All IB juniors, therefore, are enrolled in these cohort courses: IB HL English 1 (#1902); IB SL Economics (#1917); IB HL Physics 1 (#1940); and, depending on their performance in Pre-Calculus, either IB HL Math 1 Calculus AB (#1934) or IB HL Math 1 Calculus BC (#1932). All IB juniors also enroll in either French 4, Mandarin 4 or Spanish 4. Additionally, IB Diploma-seeking students must enroll in IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK) 1 (#1914) a fifth cohort course. Finally, these students must take either an art studio or music ensemble course. IB certificate students may use the TOK and art/music slots to take AP U.S. Government & Politics and/or other elective courses. As stated earlier, IB students who are not seeking an IB Diploma are encouraged to take TOK because the course, as explained on the IB website, helps students develop a coherent approach to learning that unifies academic disciplines. TOK students expand their critical thinking ability as they inquire into the nature of knowing and deepen their understanding of knowledge as human construction. During their junior year, IB-Diploma-seeking students begin fulfilling their Extended Essay (EE) and Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) requirements. Through their TOK course, students receive instruction in the independent research required to conduct a thorough, indepth study of an EE question, which each student develops in regards to his/her personal interest in one of twenty-two Diploma Programme subjects. For approximately one year, from November of their junior 6 year through mid-november of their senior year, the students research and write their 4,000-word EE. In addition to receiving instruction from their TOK teacher, the students work one-on-one with an EE-trained faculty member who supervises their research and writing process. According to the IB website, the purpose of CAS is to embark IB-Diploma seeking students on a challenging and enjoyable personal journey of self-discovery. As its name implies, CAS provides a counterbalance to academic studies by engaging students in creative endeavors, physical activity, and community service. Homewood-Flossmoor High School s CAS supervisor assists students with developing and implementing their personal CAS programs. Students are expected to be involved in CAS activities throughout their two years in the IB Diploma Programme and to reflect on their experiences, in writing, on a regular basis. To prepare for the PSAT in the fall of their junior year and for the SAT the following spring, IB 11th Graders are encouraged to enroll in Viking Test Prep. All IB students Viking Test Prep courses are paid for by Homewood-Flossmoor High School. Exams taken at the end of junior year: AP Microeconomics AP Macroeconomics AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC AP Physics 1 IB SL Economics The summer prior to their senior year, IB students may elect to take the semester-long U.S. Government & Politics course.

H-F IB Diploma Programme Senior Year Overview H-F IB Diploma Programme seniors all enroll in these cohort courses: IB HL English 2 (#1903); IB SL French (#1921), IB SL Mandarin (#TBD) or IB SL

8 H-F IB Diploma Programme Senior Year Overview H-F IB Diploma Programme seniors all enroll in these cohort courses: IB HL English 2 (#1903); IB SL French (#1921), IB SL Mandarin (#TBD) or IB SL Spanish (#1920); IB HL Physics 2 (#1941); and IB HL Math 2 Advanced Math Topics (#1933). Additionally, IB Diploma-seeking seniors take IB SL Art (#1961) or IB SL Music (#1960) and IB Theory of Knowledge 2 (#1915). As in other years, IB certificate students may use one or both of these TOK and art/music slots to take other elective courses. IB students who have not yet taken either U.S. Government & Politics at either the AP or level must do so as seniors in order to earn their Homewood-Flossmoor High School diploma. H-F IB Diploma Programme students take end-ofprogram exams for all of their IB courses, which are marked by external IB examiners. They also complete assessment tasks in their IB courses, which are either initially graded by their teachers and then marked by external moderators or sent directly to external moderators. The grades awarded for each course exam range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). Students can also be awarded up to three additional points for their combined results on the Theory of Knowledge assessment and the Extended Essay. The diploma is awarded to students who earn at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the whole Diploma Programme and to satisfactory participation in the Creativity, Action and Service requirement. The highest total a Diploma Programme student can be awarded is 45 points. IB assessments are criterion-related, which means student performance is measured against prespecified assessment criteria based on the aims and objectives of each subject curriculum, rather than 7 the performance of other students taking the same examinations. The range of scores that students have attained remains statistically stable, and universities value the rigor and consistency of the Diploma Programme s assessment practice. AP exams are graded on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). As colleges and universities often do with IB exam results, many award college credit for students AP exam scores of 3 or better. Exams taken at the end of senior year: AP Literature & Composition AP Physics 2 IB HL English IB HL Math IB HL Physics IB SL Spanish, French or Mandarin IB SL Art or IB SL Music

Grade Weighting & Class Rankings Because of the rigor of their four-year course plan, H-F IB Prep Academy and IB Diploma Programme students are poised to graduate at the top of their class.

9 Grade Weighting & Class Rankings Because of the rigor of their four-year course plan, H-F IB Prep Academy and IB Diploma Programme students are poised to graduate at the top of their class. In order to rank students, Homewood-Flossmoor High School uses a grade weighting system that recognizes differences in the challenge of courses at the various levels of Academic Core, College Prep, and AP/IB. The following table represents the 4-tier grade weighting system. Ultimately, the grades a student earns, combined with the rigor of the curriculum taken by the student, determine a grade point value that results in the student s class rank. The student with the highest weighted grade point average (GPA) is ranked number one in his or her respective class (i.e. freshmen, sophomore, junior, senior classes). All required H-F IB Prep Academy/IB Diploma Programme courses with the exception of Freshman PE, Sophomore PE and Driver Education are taken at the or AP/IB level. All Homewood-Flossmoor High School students must take their PE courses at the College Prep (CP) level; however, according to school board policy, each school year, students may take one year-long CP elective, or two semester CP electives (including Driver Education), on a pass/no pass basis. Courses taken in this manner do not affect a student s GPA or class rank. HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR HIGH SCHOOL S 4-TIER GRADE-WEIGHTING SYSTEM A B C D F AP/IB College Prep Academic Core

10 8th Graders are invited to apply to the H-F IB Prep Academy based on their Homewood-Flossmoor entrance exam scores. They should also meet the following application criteria: H-F IB Prep Academy Qualifying Criteria m Have a history of high test scores and grades. In particular, students should have earned As and Bs during the first three quarters of 8th Grade in their English/Language Arts, Math, Science and World Language courses. m Be on track to complete 8th Grade with an A or B in Geometry or, at the minimum, Algebra 1. - Students who complete Algebra 1 in 8th Grade must take Geometry in Summer School prior to freshman year and pass it with an A or B. m Be on track to complete 8th Grade with an A or B in French 1, Mandarin 1 or Spanish 1. - Students who have never taken a foreign language must take Spanish 1 in 9th Grade, followed by Spanish 2 in the summer prior to sophomore year. m Be prepared to continue to earn high grades throughout high school. m Be prepared to take seven classes all four years of high school and tackle at least two to three hours of homework per night. m Be prepared to get involved in at least one sport or activity each semester of high school. Students who successfully complete the two-year H-F IB Prep Academy advance to the IB Diploma Programme as juniors. These students experience many group and one-on-one sessions with Homewood-Flossmoor High School s IB Diploma Programme coordinator and counselors throughout their four years in the program. They can also anticipate taking field trips to such prestigious campuses as Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. Additionally, the H-F IB Prep Academy/IB Diploma Programme students receive a book chosen by the H-F Gifted Committee to read each summer, and they are invited to participate in all special programs and events hosted by the Gifted Committee. Ultimately, the H-F IB Prep Academy and IB Diploma Programme s rich curricular experience combined with unique field trips, programs and events poises its students for high levels of postsecondary academic and career success. 9

TABLE OF CONTENTS Credit for Prior Learning... 74

TABLE OF CONTENTS Credit for Prior Learning... 74 Credit by Examination...74 Specific Course Credit...74 General Education and Associate Degree Credit by Exam...74 Advanced Placement (AP) Examination: