{"id":238827,"date":"2022-12-19T04:24:47","date_gmt":"2022-12-19T04:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buoyantbloomer.com\/?p=238827"},"modified":"2023-06-15T02:23:21","modified_gmt":"2023-06-15T02:23:21","slug":"ib-elementary-school-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buoyantbloomer.com\/ib-elementary-school-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Scarce G&T seats cause anxiety?\u00a0The IB elementary school program\u00a0<\/a>is shaking things up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I first heard of the IB elementary school program last year when touring D13 schools for PreK programs. It wasn\u2019t something on my radar as they had only just started the process and we all know how government bureaucracy works. Surprisingly though, as I toured the same D13 schools this year, it sounds like they might be on track to be certified by year end 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve likely heard of the international baccalaureate program (IB program) in the context of high school when it was the distinct alternative to the advanced placement (AP) program. Some students view the AP as more of an exercise in memorization while the IB is seen as truly doing a good job teaching critical thinking. For all things IB, the international baccalaureate Organization in Switzerland is the nonprofit educational foundation started in 1968 that oversees the certification of IB schools worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There isn\u2019t a filter for IB elementary schools in the NYC DOE\u2019s search function, but if you go to the IBO\u2019s website, there is a search feature for schools near you that are IB world schools<\/a>. In NYC, there are a total of 8 IB schools, with three of them in the NYC public school system. Throughout New York State, there are 26 IB authorized schools offering the primary years program (compared to 2,210 schools worldwide). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the website will not tell you what schools are in the pipeline to be certified, so if you\u2019re going on Kindergarten school tours<\/a>, make sure to listen in as smart principals should be shouting this option from the rooftops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the international baccalaureate program?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The IB program was created to provide children of diplomats and international families with a standardized, internationally recognized curriculum and diploma. Most people are familiar with the diploma program which is the 11th<\/sup> and 12th<\/sup> grade program, and what precedes it are the Middle Years Program (ages 11-16; 6th<\/sup>-10th<\/sup> grades) and the Primary Years Program (ages 3-12, PK-5th<\/sup>grade).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of these programs is anchored by the IB learner profile which lists a set of ideals for students who graduate form the program and the goal is to develop learners who are Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-Minded, Caring, Risk-Takers, Balanced and Reflective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TL:DR \u00e0 the IB program is about raising critical thinkers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s interesting about the IB program is that admission into an IB program does not gurarantee receipt of the coveted IBO diploma. The success rate worldwide for DP diplomas in 2022 was 86.11% and the pass rate for CP certificates was 81.39%. A student who goes for the IB diploma, which requires the equivalent of six two-year courses, must also write a 4,000 word extended essay which is typically a research paper. Very few high schools require such papers for high school graduates which makes this requirement something I personally value as it does prepare you for college level work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At every level including the elementary school level, the IB program requires the completion of a culminating project. In the IB PYP, students have the PYP exhibition which I find so interesting. It’s like having a pen pal program but for learning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hold up: there\u2019s an IB elementary school program?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The IB elementary school program<\/a>, aka PYP (Primary Years Program) focuses on six themes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n