The following is adapted from informational materials provided by International Baccalaureate Organization.

IBO's History and Governance

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is a chartered foundation under the Swiss civil code with headquarters in Geneva. It is a private, non-governmental organization recognized by the Council of Europe and has consultative status with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Founded in the 1960s, the IBO grew out of international school efforts to establish a common curriculum and university entry credential for geographically mobile students. Beyond practical considerations, international educators were also motivated by an idealistic vision: they hoped that a shared academic experience emphasizing critical thinking and exposure to a variety of viewpoints would foster tolerance and inter-cultural understanding among young people. Concentration on the last two years of secondary school sought to build a comprehensive curriculum - leading to a 'baccalaureate' - that could be administered in any country and recognized by universities in every country.

In 1965 the Interational Baccalaurete Office was established at Geneva as a foundation under Swiss law. An International Council of Foundation was formed, and an experimental project was launched in 1967 and offered for use in twenty schools in 1970. Since that time, the IB has grown to more than 1180 participating schools in over 100 countries. Working in three official languages (English, French, and Spanish), the IB enjoys the respect and support of many governments, colleges and universities. Significant numbers of IB Diploma holders both from within and outside North America have gained admission to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Stanford, McGill, Toronto, MIT, Michigan, Wisconsin, Bryn Mawr and other prominent institutions. Students are often accorded advanced standing and college credit based on their IB work.  

History of the IB at Rufus King

The IB program at Rufus King High School is the oldest and largest of the five in the state of Wisconsin, and the 9th oldest IB program in the U.S. The first examination session was in May, 1980. In 1980, five students took a total of 9 IB exams and the IB class enrollment was 60. In the May 2003 testing session, 528 exams were taken and 25 full diplomas were awarded. Students going on to college have reported receiving as many as 30 to 40 college credits for IB courses and exams. Rufus King, respected both nationally and internationally, is in the top 5% of the 387 U.S. IB schools and the top 3% of IB Diploma schools world-wide in the number of IB exams taken last year. 

Curriculum

The IB curriculum, shaped over the years by educators commited to international education, involves the student's final two years of the secondary education sequence. During that time, study is undertaken in a broad range of subjects, selected under the guidance of a school appointed IB coordinator. The high standards implicit in the IB examinations assume high levels of achievement or preparation at the junior high and pre-diploma levels (grades 9 and 10).

The subjects that comprise the core of the IB curriculum are arranged according to size groups: the Diploma candidate is required to select one subject for each area. The student's selection of subjects will depend upon the range of IB subjects offered by the participating school.

IB SUBJECTS AND LEVELS BY GROUPS AT RUFUS KING