Alcuin School, a leader in Montessori and International Baccalaureate® education, today announced a 100% pass rate for its 2017-2018 IB Diploma Programme. This major milestone puts Alcuin among a few select schools in the U.S. and internationally to achieve this accomplishment, making it particularly significant for its first-ever graduating class.
Alcuin’s Class of 2018 will soon be heading out to colleges and universities across the country and around the world including: American University, Cornell University, Emory University, ESSEC Business School in France, St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, University of Southern California, and many more. They join an IB DP alumni community of more than 1.7 million graduates in 152 countries worldwide.
In order to earn the IB Diploma, students must take six IB courses (at least three of them over two years), score a total of at least 24 points on cumulative exams, complete a 4,000-word Extended Essay, pass a Theory of Knowledge class, and demonstrate a two-year commitment to Creativity, Activity and Service.
For students who meet these rigorous criteria, there are many benefits associated with earning the IB Diploma, ranging from increased admission rate at top colleges, to a higher probability of graduation from college in four years, to actual college credit. For example, the State of Texas awards at least 24 college credit hours for the IB Diploma, according to Texas Education Code [TEC] §51.968, 2005.
“It has been an amazing journey for our first senior class who are Alcuin’s educational trailblazers,” says Walter Sorensen, Alcuin Head of School. "Given the level of rigor and dedicated study required to do well in the IB Diploma, I am exceedingly proud of the results for our first graduates.”
At Alcuin School, the IB pedagogy extends the Montessori methods in an age appropriate way. Teachers continue to guide rather than dictate student learning. Choice and responsibility continue. Until Alcuin launched the Upper School in 2014, older students did not have the opportunity to move forward into a program which extended the school’s Montessori and IB at the same level of excellence.
"We are committed to helping our students achieve outstanding levels of academic excellence and our IB program has continued to flourish,” Sorensen says. “The outstanding IB faculty, coupled with Alcuin’s array of educational opportunities, provide an exceptional Upper School IB DP experience for our students. At Alcuin, we inspire innovative thinkers and passionate learners, and we know that there is no limit to what our students can achieve. Congratulations once again to all our students on their tremendous results!"
About Alcuin School
A vibrant, nurturing, coeducational academic community serving students from toddler to 12th grade, Alcuin School uses the Montessori and International Baccalaureate program methods to foster critical thinking and a lifelong passion for learning. With faculty support, students at Alcuin School are eager to embrace change, question the status quo, and prepare for their future as leaders in a global society. For more information, please visit www.alcuinschool.org.