Washburn Advanced Academics Washburn offers International Baccalaureate (IB) Advanced Placement (AP) Project Lead The Way (PLTW) CIS – MCTC partnership- Statistics Local college connections Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Grade 10 – Career & Tech Ed courses Grade 11 & 12 – part time or full time student

Course Selection Sample- see advanced course chart in folder As you move through your time at Washburn, you will see the number of offerings in Advanced Coursework increase Your 9th grade options are listed on the top of the Yellow course chart for you Moving into 10-12th grade, you will see a jump in advanced offerings especially in 11th and 12th grade

IB and AP Comparison IB AP International standard of excellence 2 year well rounded education program with 6 areas of study, an extended essay, and Theory of Knowledge course Comprehensive curriculum of college level work IB scores based on classroom work and IB external exams IB exams are all short answer or essay Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) courses offered Students can earn the full IB Diploma National standard of excellence Consists of independent courses College level courses AP score based solely on AP exam AP exams are multiple choice and short answer or essay Any student may take an AP exam Students earn credit in individual courses

What is International Baccalaureate? The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program (DP), born in Switzerland in the 1960s, is a rigorous, internationally-recognized diploma designed to prepare students for higher education. The DP curriculum is made up of the “DP core” and six subjects (literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and the arts). The six subjects can be taken at either a “high level” or a “standard level,” depending on an individual student’s strengths and weaknesses. The DP core is made up of three components: 1. ToK- theory of knowledge 2. the extended essay 3. CAS

What IB courses exist? Group 1 English Language and Literature HL Physics SL Chemistry SL Biology SL or HL Environmental Systems & Societies SL* Sports Exercise Health Science SL Group 5 Math Studies SL Math SL Math HL Group 6 Visual Arts SL or HL Music SL Group 1 English Language and Literature HL Group 2 World Languages Spanish SL and HL French SL and HL Group 3 History History HL History SL

IB Alumni Testimonials “ The WHS IB program helped me prepare for college by helping me learn how to study and improve time management skills. Overall I think the courses and EE were quite valuable in helping me prepare for college!” – Savannah ‘15 “Having read the amount we read in my IB classes lessened the shock factor for college because you already read so much.”-Mary Margaret ’12 “IB prepared me for college because instead of forcing individuals to only memorize information, it encouraged the consideration of diverse perspectives and the development of new arguments.” – Max ‘17

Advanced Placement (AP) AP courses are required to use Collegeboard approved curriculum Pace of course is more intense than standard course College level reading and comprehension required Excellent preparation for IB and college coursework (in 9th and 10th grade) Potential college credit for earning passing scores on AP exams Classes offered at Washburn: AP Human Geography (9th grade) AP English Literature and Comp (10th grade) AP US History (10th grade) AP Statistics (10-12 grades) Testing in May (score range:1-5)- out of class national test day

Current Reality 2017-2018 IB Passing rates 2014-15 % of IB testing students earning a Credit Eligible score: 70.1% 2015-16 % of IB testing students earning a Credit Eligible Score: 73.0% 2016-17 % of IB testing students earning a Credit Eligible Score: 70.0% WHS Nation AP Geography exam passing rate (scoring 3.4.5) 68% 48% AP US History exam passing rate (scoring 3,4,5) 64% 49%

Project Lead the Way Project Lead the Way (PLTW); Universities and colleges throughout Minnesota offer college credit recognition to students who complete PLTW foundational courses and specialty courses from certified high schools. Students must earn a class grade of 85% or higher, taken the college credit exam with a passing grade of at least 70%.

Other Advanced Offerings CLEP Exams (College Board’s College Level Examination Program)CLEP offers 33 exams in five subject areas, covering material taught in courses that you may generally take in your first two years of college. By passing a CLEP exam, you can earn 3 or more college credits. Exams cost $80 MCTC Intro Stats college credit course: Mr. Selvaag

My Two Cents… Everyone should take at least 1 advanced class before you graduate from Washburn Take advanced courses you are actively interested in, not one’s that your friends take  Parents and students ask questions prior to course registration each year: ask current students what classes are really like, ask teachers about the classes, parents ask other parents what they have “Heard” about classes. Take courses that will prepare you for whatever you want to do post secondary.

Questions??? Please feel free to email me at any time with questions: Aaron.Percy@mpls.k12.mn.us