Magnet School Curriculum Benefits for All Students
International Grade Level Lessons/Projects
Students at Parkland Magnet High School are taught the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for each course, but with a global focus. Each grade is assigned a region of the world to research throughout the school year:
- 9th â?? Africa
- 10th â?? Asia, including the Pacific Islands and the Middle East
- 11th â?? The Americas
- 12th â?? Europe
Each nine weeks, students participate in an inquiry-based research product that allows them to learn about other areas of the world, delves into the issues facing our global society, and engages them in the curriculum they are studying. The Grade Level Project is focused on covering the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for each course with an international perspective.
Freshman Humanities Wheel
The purpose of the humanities wheel is to expose students to the IB philosophy, aims, and objectives. Every Parkland freshman takes a â??wheelâ?? of four courses: Intro to Theory of Knowledge, Creative Writing, and two art appreciation courses (visual art, music, dance, theatre arts). The over-arching theme to connect all the courses is â??Renaissance.â?
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Description and Requirements
Parkland offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, a rigorous course of study for high school juniors and seniors that provides a liberal arts curriculum from a global perspective, university-level work, and required examinations that are developed and marked on an international standard.
The IB Diploma Programme will challenge students across the curriculum. The preparation for college level work is world class. Students will learn to reach considered conclusions and to express those ideas through writing and oral work. The candidates will be measured against an international standard, become accustomed to managing their time and their assignments, and learn to read carefully and attentively. They also will become more cognizant of the world in which we live.
IB Diploma requirements
To receive an IB Diploma, candidates must:
- Take one course from each of the six groups; three at Higher Level (240 hours) and three at Standard Level (150 hours)
- Sit for one exam in each course. Exams are scored a scale of 1 to 7. To earn the diploma a student must earn a minimum of 24 to 27 points with no failing conditions; or 28 points or more with only one failing condition. Three bonus points towards the diploma are available from Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge.
- Complete an Extended Essay, which is a 3,500 to 4,000 word independent research paper.
- Complete the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Course and submit a TOK essay.
- Complete 150 Creativity, Action, and Service hours.
IB courses offered at Parkland include:
(HL = Higher Level; SL = Standard Level)
- Group 1: English (HL)
- Group 2: Spanish B (SL), French B (SL), German B (SL), Latin B (SL), French ab initio (SL), German ab initio (SL), Latin ab initio (SL)
- Group 3: History of the Americas (HL)
- Group 4: Biology (HL, SL), Physics (SL), Chemistry (SL)
- Group 5: Math Studies (SL), Math Methods (SL)
- Group 6: Visual Arts (SL, HL), Theatre Arts (SL, HL), Music (SL), Psychology (SL, HL), Information Technology in a Global Society (SL, HL)
To download a sample student schedule for an IB diploma candidate see bottom of this page.
IB program students must be willing to spend a significant amount of time (approximately 20 hours a week) studying outside of class. Students will be responsible for maintaining consistent work on long-term projects, such as the Extended Essay and Creativity, Action and Service. Most IB candidates are very involved in non-academic areas; therefore, they must be good time managers.
For extended essay guidelines click the link on the bottom of the page.
AP or IB?
Many IB students receive college credit hours based on the scores they earn on their Higher Level exams; however, that is not the purpose of IB. IB Diploma candidates will find that college and university admissions officers are very interested in them because of their preparation in high school. IB Diploma candidates are the first students accepted at many colleges and universities and are very competitive in being awarded scholarships.
The IB Diploma Programme differs from Advanced Placement courses in several ways. IB exams include teacher assessments as well as external assessments by educators around the world. The exams are based on broad understanding of concepts and themes with strong emphasis on essay writing. Additional diploma requirements include the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Action and Service. It is an internationally-recognized diploma and acceptance to college is almost a guarantee.
Advanced Placement exams are part of a national program, and students pick and choose courses depending on their strengths and interests. AP exams are graded externally by Educational Testing Services and are based on specific course content, with a strong emphasis on multiple-choice questions. Nationally-recognized certificates are awarded instead of a diploma.
Students enrolled in IB courses may sit for the AP exams as well as the IB exams to earn college credit. History has shown that most students who are enrolled in IB courses perform very well on AP exams.
For more information, go to www.ibo.org
