Brooke Point High School IB Admissions Policy Last revised: January, 2017
IB Diploma Program Admissions Policy Open Enrollment Philosophy The IB Diploma Program (DP) at BPHS is an open-enrollment program. Students may enroll in the full IB DP or they may take individual IB courses in areas of interest and ability. The IB DP is not a competitive placement program. There is no set limit to the number of students who may participate in IB courses or the Diploma Program. Students who attend non-ib schools in other SCPS attendance zones may request a transfer to BPHS to take part in the full IB Diploma Program. IB DP as a Program in SCPS The IB DP is considered an accelerated program and therefore falls under the heading of Gifted and Accelerated Programs within Stafford County Public Schools. Students do not need to be identified as gifted to participate in the IB DP. DP Admissions Process Students who are interested in completing the full IB DP fill out and submit an application of intent when they register for their 9 th grade classes. (Students who enroll at BPHS after the 9 th grade have their applications considered on a rolling basis, as necessary.) The application is submitted to the IB DP Coordinator at BPHS through school counselors. Acceptance is determined by the IB DP Coordinator, often in conjunction with the student s counselor, based upon how well applicants meet the background recommendations with respect to coursework and grades as published in the SCPS High School Program of Studies for each course in the BPHS pre-ib sequence of honors courses (see next page). Parents of students who do not meet the background recommendations for one or more BPHS pre-ib course may elect to override the SCPS background grade recommendation and request placement in the BPHS pre-ib sequence. Although they indicate their intentions to pursue the DP when selecting 9 th and 10 th grade classes, students do not fully commit to the IB DP until they are registering for DP courses for their 11 th grade year of study. Students who do not wish to complete the full IB DP do not submit an application of intent, but must meet the SCPS background recommendations for each BPHS honors course leading to an IB subject as published in the SCPS High School Program of Studies. If a student does not meet this background recommendation, his or her parents may elect to override the recommendation and request enrollment in the BPHS pre-ib sequence course. BPHS Counselors, working with the IB Coordinator as needed, help students and families in deciding the most appropriate course placement. DP Application of Intent There are 4 main components of the BPHS IB application of intent. This application is the same for both IB World Schools in SCPS Mountain View High School (MVHS) and BPHS. Information Section: Students are provided with information about the program and are asked to provide their identifying information, contact information, and education information (courses taken and grades earned). Essay & Ranking Task: The application of intent includes an essay related to the IB Learner Profile and a task which asks students to consider and rank their reasons for wishing to apply. These two elements do not play a direct part in determining whether a student is admitted. The essay is intended to ensure that students take time to read and reflect on the IB Learner Profile traits with respect to themselves before applying for the program. The ranking task is intended to ensure that students critically consider their reasons for applying and what they hope to achieve through the DP. Neither of these components is used to prevent access to students, nor does either improve the student s opportunity for admission. Admission is based solely on the student s preparation for BPHS honors ( pre- IB ) and IB coursework as determined by the recommendations in the SCPS High School Program of Studies for each individual course. 1
Enrollment Agreement: Students and parents/guardians are asked to sign an enrollment agreement, which outlines the expectations and requirements of being a full IB DP candidate. Transfer Agreement: Students who are requesting to transfer school zones within SCPS to attend BPHS for IB are provided with information regarding the SCPS transfer policy and are asked to sign a form stating that they understand this policy. This is not required for students who are already zoned to attend BPHS. BPHS Pre-IB and IB Sequence of Courses weighted credit for GPA purposes 9 th Grade 10 th Grade 11 th Grade 12 th Grade English Honors English 9 Honors English 10 IB English year 1 IB English year 2 *World Language level 2 (or level 1 & 2) level 3 (or level 2 & 3) IB World Lang year 1 IB World Lang year 2 Social Studies Hon World Hist. 2 OR AP World History AP Gov. (meets VA req.) IB History year 1 IB History year 2 Science Honors Biology Honors Chemistry IB Science year 1 IB Science year 2 *Math Honors math course Honors math course IB Math year 1 IB Math year 2 Other Requirement Health/PE 9 Health/PE 10 Theory of Knowledge yr 1 Theory of Knowledge yr 2 Elective/Other Req. elective elective IB Elective elective Elective/Other Req. elective elective or E&PF* Elective or E&PF* Elective or E&PF* *Placement in World Language & Math will depend on highest level achieved in 8 th grade. Students must complete 3 levels of world language before beginning IB world language; students must complete Adv. Algebra 1, Adv. Geometry, and Adv. Algebra 2 (at a minimum) before beginning IB Math courses. E&PF is Economics & Personal Finance, a VA requirement in 10, 11 or 12. Creativity Activity - Service Extended Essay SCPS Background Recommendations for BPHS Pre-IB Courses Honors English 9 B+ or higher in 8 th grade English (not Extended) B or higher in 8 th grade English-Extended Honors English 10 B or higher in Honors English 9 World Language Honors World Hist. 2 AP World History C or higher in previous level of study in that language B or higher in 8 th grade social studies course B or higher in 8 th grade social studies course AP Comp Gov t B or higher in Honors World History 2 Honors Biology B or higher in middle school physical science Honors Algebra B or higher in Math 8 Honors Geometry Honors Algebra II Math Analysis w/trig B or higher in Algebra I B or higher in Geometry B or higher in Algebra II 2
SCPS Background Recommendations for BPHS IB Courses IB Language & Literature HL IB World Languages SL IB History HL IB Biology HL IB Chemistry HL IB Physics SL IB Math Studies SL IB Mathematics SL/HL IB Visual Art SL/HL IB Music SL/HL IB Theatre Art SL All other IB electives B or higher in previous Honors English courses B or higher in previous level of world language study B or higher in Honors World History & C or higher in AP Government B or higher in Honors Biology, Chemistry, Algebra I and II B or higher in Honors Chemistry, Biology, Algebra I and II B or higher in Honors Physics B or higher in Algebra I, Honors Geometry, and Honors Algebra II B or higher in Algebra I, Honors Algebra II, Honors Geometry, & Math Analysis B or higher in Art Foundations & Intermediate Art B or higher in prior music classes (band, orchestra, chorus) B or higher in Drama I and Drama II B or higher in core subjects related to elective (math, science, English, social studies, business, programming) Students with Special Education Needs In accordance with the principles stated in the BPHS IB Learner Diversity Policy, the school has an open-enrollment policy for IB courses and the IB Diploma Program. Students with special educational needs are encouraged to participate in IB courses when they meet the background recommendations identified for each course as stated in the SCPS High School Program of Studies. Accommodations for instruction and assessment are made, as necessary, in accordance with student Individual Education Plans, 504 plans, IB policies, and practices of differentiated instruction. Resources & Correlated Documents This policy has been informed by the following IB documents and policies: Approaches to Teaching and Learning in the Diploma Programme General regulations: Diploma Programme Handbook of Procedures for the Diploma Programme IB Learner Profile Booklet Programme Standards and Practices Rules for IB World Schools Diploma Programme The Diploma Programme: From Principles into Practice Learner Diversity in the IB Programmes: Special educational needs within the IB programmes What is an IB Education? This Policy has been informed by and correlates to the following SCPS or BPHS IB policy documents: Academic Honesty Policy Assessment Policy Language Policy Learner Diversity Policy SCPS High School Program of Studies 3
Policy Steering Committee (2016-2017) Julie Stemple-Hoover, BPHS IB Diploma Program Coordinator Committee Leader Jeanne Mills, English teacher Dewey Reynolds, English teacher Sean Weaver, Math teacher James Ralph, Assistant Principal Tammy Houk, Head of School Roles and Responsibilities of the Steering Committee The BPHS IB Diploma Program Coordinator is responsible for assembling the Steering Committee and informing the committee of regulations regarding the IB Diploma Program as it relates to admissions principles and practices. All members of the Steering Committee are responsible for reading relevant IB documents related to the formation and/or revision of an admission policy and evaluating the current BPHS IB policy document in light of these documents. The Policy as a Working Document The BPHS Admissions Policy is to be considered a working document that is reviewed and revised at least every five years in conjunction with the school s IB self-study review cycle, or more frequently if changes in the school s student population, state or federal laws, or IB course offerings and/or sequencing dictate review and revision. Communicating the Admissions Policy The BPHS IB Admissions Policy is available to all current and prospective students and families as part of the comprehensive BPHS IB web site; this site serves as the BPHS IB Handbook for potential and current IB Diploma Program Students (tinyurl/ibatbphs). These policies are also communicated to students and parents through individual IB course teachers, counselors, and the IB DP Coordinator at the start of each academic year. 4