The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a rigorous high school program that doubles as a highly respected college prep curriculum. It was designed in Switzerland in the 1960s to give students around the world a chance to earn a rigorous, internationally recognized diploma, which they could then use for entry into universities. IB classes follow a curriculum mandated by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB) in Cardiff, Wales. IB courses include papers and IB exams graded by B-CC teachers (known as internal assessments) and papers and IB exams graded by IB external assessors. IB final exams are given in May and are graded on a 1 to 7 scale, with 7 being the highest. The IB Diploma Programme prepares students ages 16-19 for college-level coursework. Students must take courses from six areas of study: sciences, mathematics, studies in language and literature, language acquisition, the arts, and individuals and societies. At the end of each class, students take an IB assessment and receive points that can be applied toward an IB diploma.

IB classes are unique from other advanced classes, like an honors-level class or Advanced Placement courses, because they fit into the educational ecosystem created by IB. The classes are part of the IB diploma and intentionally developed to promote interdisciplinary learning and critical thinking across different fields of study. IB courses are also more active and rigorous than standard courses, and they focus on holistic learning, problem-solving, and creative thinking to a greater degree than AP classes.

Students can take individual IB classes and earn a certificate of completion for each class (with a score of 4 or higher) or can be IB diploma students, which is a 2-year program for juniors and seniors. Students who decide to pursue an IB diploma must complete a specific set of courses, the Theory of Knowledge course, a 4,000-word Extended Essay, and 150 hours of creativity, action, and service hours.

IB classes can be taken either on their own as part of a separate diploma, like the American high school diploma, or as part of the two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Taking IB classes (especially earning the full IB Diploma) is a great way to show universities that students have taken difficult courses in a range of subjects and are able to manage college-level coursework.