International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
Welcome to the International Baccalaureate for All Program at PVCICS!
Here you will find information about the IB for All program at PVCICS and announcements about what our IB students are doing.
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School opened in 2007 with a Chinese Immersion and “IB for All” mission. We are very proud that our initial cohorts of IB Diploma students graduated in 2017-2023. These cohorts attained tremendous success in their IB exams and college acceptances! Our high school is growing every year and we know it prepares all students from our region of service with a top notch education that prepares them for college and beyond.
The International Baccalaureate was established in 1968 as an international diploma with a rigorous curriculum that includes critical thinking as well as community service and physical activity. IB students are recognized all over the world for their ability to succeed and their high achievement in their post-high school education and career paths.
More information can be found at the International Baccalaureate website here.
IB students are valued because they have highly developed critical thinking and time management skills and significantly higher rates of graduation from university. Students study six subjects, complete an independent research project, study philosophy and epistemology, and engage in extracurricular activities that extend their learning into the real world. Listen to Stanford Dean of Admissions Debra Von Bargen talk about her perspective as a Dean of Admissions and IB parent here and here.
Colleges value the IB Program, as evidenced by the following quotes from university personnel:
The IB Program is the best university preparation program that schools can offer its students. -Marilee Jones, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, MIT
We are so confident in the IB Program that-after successful completion of one year of study at Sarah Lawrence-we will grant an entire year's worth of credit to students who hold the IB Diploma, allowing them to complete graduation requirements in just three years. -Kevin McKenna, Dean of Enrollment, Sarah Lawrence College
PVCICS graduates have had tremendous success with the program, earning significant merit scholarship money as well as credit for their IB scores. In addition, with the class of 2022, PVCICS will have six small graduating high school cohorts thus far.
PVCICS students have gained acceptance to the following colleges and universities (partial list):
PVCICS is committed to offering a full range of courses so that students can follow their chosen path to post-graduate success.
Our IB program has the following courses to choose from:
IB Biology
IB English Literature OR IB English Language and Literature
IB Chinese
IB Business and Management
IB History of Europe
IB Psychology
IB Biology
IB Chemistry
IB Environmental Systems and Society
IB Physics
IB Mathematics Analysis
IB Mathematics Applications
IB Theater
IB Theory of Knowledge
The IB Program requires students to take six courses plus a philosophy/epistemology course to earn the full IB Diploma. These courses are taken at either Higher Level (240 hours) or Standard Level (150 hours). Students take three HL and three SL courses as IB Diploma Candidates. Students must earn a total of 24/45 points in order to receive an IB Diploma. PVCICS students earned an average of 31 points and had a 90% passing rate, putting it among the top high schools in the world. More information about the program can be found here
Below is an informational presentations about the program at PVCICS and about how grade 10 students should select courses.
Additional Information
ib for all at pvcics
Questions?
Contact the IB Coordinator at mmacpherson@pvcics.org if you have questions about the IB Program at PVCICS.
Congratulations to the class of 2022!!