Sonora High School

What is International Baccalaureate?

International Baccalaureate is Sonora High School's most comprehensive and academically challenging  option for our college-bound students. 

International Baccalaureate (IB) is an international curriculum created by professional and innovative  educators from different cultures around the world. As such, it reflects the best practices of a range of  different educational frameworks. The IB curriculum is broad and balanced, conceptual and connected.  It’s geared toward creating well-rounded individuals and engaged world citizens who are internationally minded and able to think beyond their immediate environment. 

The IB curriculum is a more holistic, long-term vision of education that promotes ethical responsibility,  healthy relationships, and the skills and attitudes needed for personal success. It encourages students to  view learning as a lifestyle. Students are taught to think for themselves and drive their own learning  process. IB students will increase their understanding of language, cultures, and globally significant ideas  and issues.  

The IB program was first founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1968. It sprang from a desire to create an  international curriculum that enabled its graduates to fulfill the requirements of multiple national  educational systems, and to develop internationally-minded people who recognize their common  humanity to help create a better and more peaceful world. 

The IB program is governed by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). The IBO office in  Switzerland serves as the global hub for support functions such as legal, intellectual property, tax, and  governance. A non-profit organization, the IBO is a recognized leader in the field of international  education.  

Any school desiring to offer IB programs must first complete the IBO's authorization process.  Once authorized, the school is known as an IB World School. Sonora High School has been an  IB World School since 1986! 

There are currently over 120 IB World Schools in California and over 4,000 world-wide, educating almost  one million students. The IB program has support and recognition from colleges, universities, and  governments around the globe.  

For further information about the IBO, please visit its official website.