The IB Payoff 

Global Perspective.  Coursework in English, History, and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) classes covers material from many cultures and perspectives.

Critical Thinking and Analysis.  Teachers are trained to teach in creative ways and engender lively discussions.  Writing and class discussion emphasize critical thinking.

School Within a School.  IB students take many classes together throughout their years at DMHS and form a closely knit community within the larger school setting.  IB students share the same guidance counselor.

Emphasis on Depth, More Than Breadth. The IB curriculum focuses on delving deeply into the subject matter and demonstrating mastery of it.  This is also reflected in the community service (CAS) and extended essay (EE) aspects of the program.

Rigorous College Prep.  Students who have completed the IB program at DMHS report that they were well prepared for even the most demanding college work.

Recognition in the Admission Process.  Colleges look for the highest level of academic rigor when they evaluate students and the IB program is synonymous with this standard.  Schools value the very fact that students have undertaken this course of study.  Students do not find out if they have scored high enough on their IB exams to obtain their IB diploma until the summer after graduation.  Neither college admission nor SUSD graduation is jeopardized by whether or not a student has been awarded an IB diploma.

College Credit or a Placement Bump May Result.  Students who complete the requirements for the IB Diploma and score well on their IB exams may receive college credit or a placement bump in certain classes.  These policies are school specific and should be researched on each school's website.  This is similar to the treatment of AP test results.

International Consistency and District Support.  The IB program has a defined curriculum throughout the world.  SUSD's program has been certified, teachers are specially trained, and the District has embraced the IB program as an important opportunity for excelling high school students.