North Broward Preparatory School offers the International Baccalaureate Program.
But what is IB?
North Broward Preparatory School is one of only a few schools in South Florida that offers the International Baccalaureate program, which is often referred to as the gold standard of learning. While most parents are familiar with Advanced Placement courses, the International Baccalaureate program is not as widely known. The International Baccalaureate program, known as IB, is another accelerated program that is viewed favorably by college admissions officers.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a balanced program of education that prepares students for success at the university level and life beyond. It is designed to address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students. At the heart of the IB program is a focus on developing students who are inquirers, thinkers and knowledgeable communicators and risk-takers, but who are also principled, open-minded, caring, balanced and reflective. The program encourages both personal and academic achievement, challenging students to excel in their studies and in their development.
Shayna Singer, a recent North Broward Prep graduate and IB student will study music at Florida State University in the fall. She enjoyed her experience with the IB program and is glad she decided to try the program on the recommendation of friends and her teachers at NBP.
“IB really prepares students in many different ways and definitely prepares you for college more than other high school courses,” said Singer.
The IB program is a full academic program. Students eventually test in six subject areas to earn the prestigious IB diploma. The curriculum focuses on developing independently of government and national systems, incorporating quality practice from research and our global community of schools, encouraging students of all ages to consider both local and global contexts and developing multilingual students.
To earn the IB diploma, students not only need to score well on subject area tests, but are also required to research and write a 4,000-word essay and do 150 hours of community service work, in addition to other requirements.
“In terms of your assessments and projects, there is a lot of leniency in regards to what topics you get to choose, which allows you to learn a bit more about what you’re interested in and use your own creativity to develop your portfolio,” says Singer. “For example, I loved my IB English class because we had the opportunities to do presentations, creative writing, research essays and a huge range of literature.”
The program is an excellent option for students who are interested in taking control of their own learning and educational process. As part of Nord Anglia Education, the world’s leading educational organization, North Broward Preparatory School provides students with learning experiences that are enhanced through collaborations with Juilliard, MIT and UNICEF – giving students the opportunity to experience a multidisciplinary approach to STEAM and performing arts curriculum. Through Nord Anglia’s UNICEF partnership and Global Campus, students connect with 50,000 peers around the world and learn how they can be world changers.
And the results speak for themselves. For the 2020-2021 academic year, Nord Anglia Education schools achieved a diploma pass rate of 98%, well above the global average of 88.96% last year. Also a total of 14 Nord Anglia schools had a perfect 100% pass rate.
“Having the IB diploma candidate on a college application is very impressive and is one of the first things that college recruiters look for because of the academic rigor of the program,” said Tamara Wolpowitz, IB coordinator.
To learn more about the International Baccalaureate Program, take a North Broward Prep guided tour and speak with faculty members. Call 954-247-0179 or go to www.nbps.org/visit.