International Baccalaureate

Receiving official designation in May 2010, Long Trail School is proud to be the first school in Vermont to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous, pre-university course of study designed for highly motivated juniors and seniors. The IB curriculum emphasizes how to learn, how to think, and how to reach considered conclusions on the many issues that will face students in the future.

The two-year course of study is designed to establish a basic standard for international education and focuses on the education of the “whole person.” Mirroring Long Trail School’s own Core Values, the IB Programme is based on the premise that academic training must also provide students with the values and skills they need to succeed.

Diploma candidates must complete coursework in six subject areas and pass exams in each. They must also take the Theory of Knowledge course, write an Extended Essay based on the study of an original problem, and complete an extracurricular requirement in three areas: creativity, action, and service. The IB Programme is a natural fit with the mission of the school and the standard Upper School curriculum. The IB emphasis on critical thinking, depth of learning, research, and writing skills underscores the philosophy of our Upper School curriculum. Some IB courses are taught in conjunction with Advanced Placement courses.

The IB Programme offers committed students who are organized, who manage time well, and who are serious about academics the opportunity to earn this internationally recognized diploma in addition to their Long Trail School diploma. In some cases, IB diploma recipients may be awarded sophomore status in colleges and universities.

For more information on the IB Programme, visit www.ibo.org.