The IB Diploma Programme, designed for college-bound and highly motivated students, is a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum based on international standards. Students who successfully complete the challenging two-year program (junior/senior level) may earn college and university credit as well as the IB Diploma. Some IB courses may be taught concurrently with Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
IB’s broad range of subjects accommodates diverse student interests and intentions. The advanced academic study allows proficiency in languages, science, mathematics, social studies, and fine arts. In order to receive the IB diploma, students must complete a Theory of Knowledge class, the Extended Essay, and the Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) component.
IB’s multi-disciplinary approach encourages students to develop their academic talents, delve into educational inquiry, and study human behavior. Students complete internal assessments (projects, oral presentations, essays, etc.) and external assessments (exams) that are moderated and evaluated by international examiners. Costs of these exams must be borne by the student; however, limited financial assistance is available.
Based on the associated IB exam, advanced placement and/or college credit may be awarded upon college entrance. Colleges and universities have policies regarding how much credit and/or advanced placement will be received for a given score on an IB exam, including any courses from which the student will be exempted or any higher-level courses the student will be allowed to enter. Students should check college websites about specific advanced placement and credit policies. A Texas law now exists which requires public colleges to grant entering freshmen at least 24 semester credit hours if they complete the IB diploma program and score 4 or above on the IB exams.
To enter the IB Diploma Programme in the junior year of high school, it is recommended that students must have participated in Pre-AP or Pre-IB courses and studied a second language during the freshman and sophomore years. Students may transfer to a campus offering the IB Programme to participate. McNeil and Westwood students may participate in the Westwood IB Programme; Round Rock and Stony Point students may participate in the Stony Point IB Programme. The student is responsible for transportation.
Further information is available from the IB Coordinator at the participating high schools.
Overview
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) is a non-profit educational foundation, motivated by its mission, focused on the student. Our four programmes for students aged 3 to 19 help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world. Founded in 1968, we currently work with 3,871 schools in 148 countries to develop and offer four challenging programmes to over 1,216,000 students aged 3 to 19 years.
Facts & Figures
What would you like to know about the International Baccalaureate® (IB)? We publish a range of statistics and information regarding all aspects of our work. The main ones can be found in this section.
IB Fast Facts
For top level information at a glance, visit this page of key information about the IB.
IB World School statistics
We publish a range of statistics in order to provide information about IB World Schools. These statistics are updated daily.
- Number of schools offering each possible combination of programme by IB region
- Number of schools by country
Statistical bulletins
A statistical bulletin is published following each Diploma Programme examination session and the Middle Years Programme moderation session in June. Each statistical bulletin contains summary statistics of the results of that session.
Annual review
The IB annual review is compiled by the IB communications team and published each year in the spring.
School satisfaction survey
In order to ensure that we can constantly improve the quality of our service based on the needs and views of IB World Schools, we conduct an annual school satisfaction survey.Results of 2012 school satisfaction survey
School satisfaction survey In order to ensure that we can constantly improve the quality of our service based on the needs and views of IB World Schools, we conduct an annual school satisfaction survey. Results of 2012 school satisfaction survey
IB Annual Review
The annual review is a summary of progress made over the year based on a number of key indicators.
The IB annual review is compiled by the IB communications team and published at the Council Annual General Meeting in April/May.
Annual reviews
Related information
IB Fast Facts
Mission
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the IB works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
Find out more – Mission & Strategy
Main Activities
The IB works in four areas:
- Development of curriculum
- Assessment of students
- Training and professional development of teachers
- Authorization and evaluation of schools
Size
The IB offers four programmes for students aged 3 to 19. The programmes can be offered individually or as a continuum by IB World Schools.
What Makes IB Unique
- We offer a continuum of education, consisting of four programmes for students aged 3 to 19.
- We are proud of our reputation for high quality education sustained for over 35 years.
- We encourage international-mindedness in IB students. To do this, we believe that students must first develop an understanding of their own cultural and national identity.
- We encourage a positive attitude to learning by encouraging students to ask challenging questions, to critically reflect, to develop research skills, to learn how to learn and to participate in community service.
- We ensure that our programmes are accessible to students in a wide variety of schools—national, international, public and private—through our unique relationship with IB World Schools worldwide.
Staffing
The IB employs staff/representatives in Beijing, Buenos Aires, Cardiff, Geneva, Mumbai, New York, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Vancouver.
Find out more—IB offices.
The IB works with more than 5,000 examiners located worldwide. IB examiners are frequently teachers. Each subject has a chief examiner who is always a senior university academic with international standing in their subject.
Budget
The main sources of IB income are:
- authorization and evaluation fees
- workshops and conferences
- publications
- annual school fee
- examination fees
- other.
Find out more—Information for donors.
Governance
The IB is governed by an elected 17-member Board of Governors, which appoints the director general, sets the strategic direction of the organization, adopts a mission statement, makes policy, oversees the IB’s financial management, and ensures the autonomy and integrity of IB Diploma Programme examinations and other student assessment. Board membership represents cultural and geographical diversity.
Find out more—IB governance.
Strategy
The strategic plan of the IB addresses the key issues facing the IB—sustaining high quality and encouraging wider access in the context of rapid growth.
Find out more—Strategic plan.
Growth
One-year growth by programme
| Programme(s) | Jul 2013 | Jul 2014 | increase |
| PYP | 1,053 | 1,179 | 11.97% |
| MYP | 989 | 1,100 | 11.22% |
| DP | 2,407 | 2,585 | 7.40% |
| Total programmes | 4,449 | 4,864 | 9.33% |
Five-year growth by programme
| Programme(s) | Jul 2009 | Jul 2014 | increase | CAGR |
| PYP | 507 | 1,179 | 132.54% | 18.39% |
| MYP | 599 | 1,100 | 83.64% | 12.93% |
| DP | 1,838 | 2,585 | 40.64% | 7.06% |
| Total programmes | 2,944 | 4,864 | 65.22% | 10.56% |
CAGR is Compound Annual Growth Rate
Legal status
A foundation registered in Switzerland. The IB is non-profit.
July 2014
Useful documents
IB World Statistics
- Number of schools offering each possible combination of programme by IB region
- Number of schools by country
- Programme growth by region
About our statistics
Q. Why are the number of schools and programmes not the same?
A.Because the IB offers three programmes, many schools choose to teach more than one programme. Therefore, the number of programmes available in IB World Schools is higher than the number of schools.
Statistical Bulletins
Each statistical bulletin contains summary statistics for the session as well as comparisons with previous years.
- Middle Years Programme—MYP statistical bulletins
- Diploma Programme—DP statistical bulletins