IB Program

“Our Lady of Good Counsel is dedicated to providing a challenging high school experience to all students. To fulfill that mission OLGC offers its students two of the most rigorous college level programs available. The International Baccalaureate Program serves students who desire academic rigor across the curriculum. Advanced Placement courses provide challenging courses in individual subject areas. Whether a student desires a broad base of college level courses or seeks a demanding experience in select subject areas Good Counsel’s IB and AP programs offer students the opportunity to prepare themselves for the college experience.


The International Baccalaureate Program at OLGCHS

Established in the 1960's out of the United World College movement, and aimed at fostering understanding among students in all corners of the world, the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) is a two-year college preparatory course of studies. Dubbed by the press as the "Cadillac" of college-prep programs, the IB is a curriculum which requires students to take examinations in six different subject areas; complete an original piece of research; participate in and reflect upon their athletics, activities, and service; and complete an interdisciplinary seminar entitled Theory of Knowledge.

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School has administered the IB program since 1997. Flowing from the school's philosophy of "educating the whole person", the IB balances rigorous academic studies with a holistic approach towards living constructively in an ever-expanding world. Beyond the purely academic requirements, however, the IB compels students to reflect upon activities, athletics and service as vital components of a well-rounded education. True to our Catholic identity, IB students are challenged to learn in all fields of knowledge, but are also faced with the issue of applying their knowledge and talents to the needs of the world in which they live.


Academic Requirements

In order to earn the IB Diploma, students must successfully complete coursework in six different subject areas. Three of these are taken in students' more successful subjects on the Higher Level (HL), and three are taken in areas which present greater difficulty to students on the Standard Level (SL). In this respect, students display their strengths, yet also support and extend their skills to areas which present greater challenges.


The IB Diploma Model

Currently, Good Counsel offers the following IB Diploma options:
    Higher Level Standard Level
    • English
    • Spanish
    • French
    • European History
    • Biology
    • Mathematics
    • Music
    • History of the Americas
    		  
    • Spanish
    • French
    • History
    • Economics
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
    • Theater Arts World Religions
    • Biology
    • Mathematics Methods
    • Mathematics Studies
    • Music
    • Art
    • World Religions

Diploma Requirements

The additional Diploma requirements are met in the following manner:

  • Theory of Knowledge, the interdisciplinary seminar which challenges students to think across traditional lines of thought is combined over two years with the Honors Junior and Senior Religion courses.
  • The Extended Essay, a 4000-word piece of supervised; original research selected by the student in an area of particular interest is begun in class during the Junior year, and completed independently during the Senior year.
  • Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) is a 150 hour requirement completed over two years that allows students to plan and reflect meaningfully on their activities, athletics, and service.

Scale of Fees International Baccalaureate students are graded along the lines of published external criteria in all cases. These criteria are applied both by the Good Counsel faculty and by examiners outside of the school. Students' final grades are determined by combining both the external and internal assessments. This system incurs various financial obligations to students. The scale of fees for the 2007-2008 academic year are as follows:

  Junior Year Senior Year
Candidate Registration Fee $123.00. X
Exam Fee
(per subject)		 $84.00 $84.00



Admission to the Program

While it is recommended that students have completed the Pre-IB course of studies at Good Counsel, all students are eligible to apply to the IB Program during their Sophomore year. Applications are available each year in December and are due in February. Students are notified of the results of their application in March.

Our Lady of Good Counsel seeks to extend every opportunity for students to enter and succeed in the IB Program. Generally, students will be successful as Diploma candidates if they reflect the following criteria:
  • A high level of personal motivation and organization
  • Above average grades in Pre-IB/AP courses and very high grades in College-prep courses
  • Participation in activities, athletics, and service
  • Favorable recommendations from the Faculty
  • Superior conduct and attendance
  • Family support

Advanced Placement at Our Lady of Good Counsel

 

Our Lady of Good Counsel has developed a strong tradition of AP courses over the years. The dedication to Advanced Placement courses stems from the belief that students who take rigorous courses in high school are well prepared for what awaits them in college. Good Counsel students may choose from a wide selection of AP courses. In 2005, 206 Good Counsel students sat for 337 exams in 17 AP subjects.”

 

The following courses are offered at Good Counsel

 

English

Microeconomics

Chemistry

Statistics

Calculus AB

Calculus BC”

Spanish

Macroeconomics

US History

European History

US Government

French

Comparative Government

Biology

Physics

 

Application to Advanced Placement

 

Students who wish to be considered for AP courses must complete a departmental application. Applications are available in December and are due in February. Applicants are evaluated based on their previous performance within the given subject area. Final approval is made on a department by department basis. Approval for an AP course does not ensure a spot in the class as enrollment is based on seniority and available space.

 


For more information about Good Counsel's International Baccalaureate Program

Contact:
Dr. Maryann Gluodenis
Phone (240)283-3217
E-mail gluodenis@olgchs.org