International Baccalaureate

Dakota Ridge High School continually strives for a school based upon an exceptional community that promotes extraordinary learning, expanded opportunities, and above all, success for all students.

Dakota Ridge High School aspires to help all members of its community develop a balance between and synergy from four basic human needs: the need to live, the need to love, the need to learn, and the need to leave a legacy. Therefore, Dakota Ridge consciously commits itself to demonstrating:

• The physical need to live in an environment that is clean, safe, and business-like; a vibrant place which inspires a healthy attitude in its community of learners.
• The social need to love self and others with respect, high expectations, trust and decency; to belong to and work as a responsible member of the community.
• The mental need to learn by continuously seeking and accepting challenging opportunities that expand our abilities and motivate others to make full use of their abilities.
• The spiritual need to leave a legacy by establishing a sense of meaning and purpose to our existence through contributions to our community and to the lives of others.

Established in 1968, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme was created by a group of talented, forward-thinking educators at the International School of Geneva, with assistance from several other international schools.

What started as a single programme for internationally mobile students preparing for university, has today grown into four programmes for students aged 3-19. The DP was established to provide students with a balanced education, to facilitate geographic and cultural mobility and to promote international understanding.

Today, the DP is a comprehensive and rigorous two year curriculum for junior and seniors, aged 16-19. As of May 2015, there are 2,795 schools offering the DP, in 143 different countries worldwide.

IB Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments, and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right. – ibo.org

Advanced Placement of International Baccalaureate? Which class style is right for you? Compare and contrast these two well-know academic programs.

At the heart of the International Baccalaureate is the learner profile. As explained by the IB, “The IB learner profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. They imply a commitment to help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.”

As IB learners, students strive to be:

• Inquirers: We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
• Knowledgeable: We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
• Thinkers: We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
• Communicators: We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
• Principled: We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
• Open-minded: We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
• Caring: We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have commitment and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others in the world around us.
• Risk-takers: We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
• Balanced: We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives – intellectual, physical and emotional – to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
• Reflective: We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experiences. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses to support our learning and personal development.

Watch a video about the IB's learner profile.

In a word, community. There are many reasons why the Dakota Ridge International Baccalaureate Programme is right for you and your student, but we believe that our greatest asset is each other.

IB Community

The IB community is an integral part of the Dakota Ridge community. When you join the IB DP Programme at Dakota Ridge, you are becoming part of a close-knit group that exists within the exceptional community at Dakota Ridge.

DRHS’ first graduating IB class was in May 2013, but in this short time we have established ourselves as a strong program that offers many benefits to our students that other schools and programs don't.

• Outstanding faculty who are highly trained and care greatly about our students
• IB parent organization that supports students throughout the year with:
  • Pre-IB and IB community events, such as the IB Fall Kickoff
  • Pre-IB and IB finals study nights, with dinner provided
  • College prep with guest speakers to help students navigate selecting and applying to college
  • Special events, such as in 2015 when the IB parent board sent several students to see Malala Yousafzai speak in Denver. Malala was the 2014 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and the youngest recipient ever in the history of the award.
• IB counselor liaison who works with the IB coordinator, students and counselors to offer support to IB students throughout their journey
• EE, ToK and CAS coordinators who are all highly trained and passionate about the IB programme

Results

By building a community first, the Dakota Ridge IB DP Programme is demonstrating real results, including:

• 100% IB Diploma pass rate in 2014, 2020, 2021 and 2022
• Multiple IB graduates awarded partial and full scholarships to the schools of their choice
• As many as 58 college credits awarded to DP graduates at universities and colleges.
• All IB students – not just diploma recipients – receiving a world-class education

To learn more about each of the IB classes offered at Dakota Ridge.

• IB Language and Literature HL
• IB Language Acquisition (Spanish, French, German) SL
• IB Language Acquisition (Spanish, French, German) ab initio
• IB History of the Americas
• IB Psychology
• IB World Religions
• IB Biology
• IB Biology (first teaching Fall 2023)
• IB Chemistry
• IB Chemistry (first teaching Fall 2023)
• IB Physics
• IB Sports, Exercise, and Health Science
• IB Math Applications and Interpretation
• IB Math Analysis and Approaches
• IB Visual Arts SL and HL

The IB DP Core

• Theory of Knowledge
• Extended Essay
• Creativity, Activity, Service

Review DRHS IB policies:

• Integrity Policy
• Admissions Policy
• Assessment Policy
• Inclusion Policy
• Language Policy
• Student and Parent Complaint Procedure

IB information nights

IB information nights will be held this year on: 

• Tuesday November 19, 6:30-7:30pm in the DRHS Library – This will be an IB-specific information night for all interested eighth-, ninth- and 10th-grade students and their parents. Come learn about the amazing world of IB – whether you want to take one or two IB classes or pursue the IB diploma – this night will answer all of your questions.
• Wednesday December 4, 6:00-7:30 in the DRHS Library – Will be followed by a breakout session about the IB Programme

IB Info Nights Flyer (2024-2025)

Interested families can join us for one of these nights (they don't need to attend both) to learn about the benefits of our IB programme. 

Choice enrollment begins in December.

Questions? Call or email our IB coordinator, Holly Davis, at 303-982-8956 or holly.davis@jeffco.k12.co.us

Informational videos

• The value of an IB education
• How does the Diploma Programme prepare students to be successful in STEM and liberal arts?
• How does IB prepare underserved students to be successful at university?

Additional IB information

• The IB Diploma Programme
• Facts and Figures
• Key Findings
• FAQs

The DRHS Shadow Day program allows prospective students to experience the positive energy and academic rigor found throughout our school. Learn more about our school, ask questions and receive a school tour.

Shadow days are led by Holly Davis, IB coordinator, and Julie Plautz, counselor.

Join our IB community! If you have questions about the enrollment process, contact IB coordinator Holly Davis at holly.davis@jeffco.k12.co.us

Interested in joining IB? It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Submit the DRHS IB interest form:
   1. Current Eighth-Grade Interest Form (to be completed by students currently enrolled in eighth grade)
   2. Current Ninth or 10th-Grade Interest Form (to be completed by students currently enrolled in ninth or 10th grade)
2. Complete Jeffco enrollment. Be sure to select the “Dakota Ridge High School International Baccalaureate Program” option.
3. Follow the “DRHS IB Recommended Pathways” guide to help you complete class registration.

• IB Recommended Pathways
• IB Planning Guide
• IB Request for Results 2024
• 2024 IBARMS Scholarship
• eCoursework Guide
• How to Stand Out
• IB Scholarships and Recognition Universities and Colleges
• 50 Scholarships for new IB graduates
• Earning College Credit
• Ordering IB Transcripts

What is CAS?

Creativity – exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance

Activity – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle

Service—collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need

• Great Reflection Example from a TedTalk

Need CAS Ideas?

Here are some ideas and organizations to consider if you're struggling to get started with CAS. If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact the CAS coordinator, Levi Bartholomew at Levi.Bartholomew@jeffco.k12.co.us

• 20 Ways for Teenagers to Help Other People By Volunteering
• Volunteer Ideas for 5 Different Age Groups
• 30 Hour Famine
• AmeriCorps
• American Cancer Society
• Bead for Life
• Big Sunday
• Clean Up the World
• Denver Rescue Mission
• Doull Elementary Tutoring – contact Mr. Lenling for information
• Do Something
• Food Bank of the Rockies
• Foodfast
• Generation On
• Global Nomads
• Global Volunteer Network
• Habitat for Humanity
• HandsOn Network
• Humanitarian Day
• Invisible Children
• iParticipate
• Limbs International
• Operation Gratitude
• Red Cross
• Ronald McDonald House
• Save the Children
• Save Darfur
• Stand Up for Kids
• Students Rebuild
• Taking It Global
• Smile Train
• Severe Weather Shelter Network
• The Philanthropy Project
• The Volunteer Family
• Volunteer Match
• Tree People
• Young Heroes

Many of these ideas are very global, but don't forget to look around your own school, your own community, and your own state to see if there are any local ideas that might interest you! CAS is what you make of it! Find something you are passionate about, figure out a way to make a difference, and enjoy your CAS experience; that's what it's about, after all!

IB exam fees for the 2023-24 school year are $125 per exam. This fee includes the cost and postage for each exam. Students will sit for IB exams from April 25-May 17, 2024. The May 2024 exam schedule will be available here once details are finalized. Please pay fees for IB exams through Jeffco Connect or the DRHS financial office.

In 2003, Colorado passed legislative bill HB1108. This bill guarantees a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit for all IB Diploma graduates who attend a Colorado four-year public college or university and do not have a score of less than 4 on an IB exam. This is an incredible incentive for IB Diploma graduates who elect to remain in Colorado for college.  

For more information on how college credits are awarded in the state of Colorado for IB classes, go to Colorado Commission on Higher Education.

Although all state-supported schools are required to publish current IB credit award information, you are urged to look at the individual campus policies for how IB credits are awarded in various subjects and contact individual schools with any questions you may have. 

The IB continually works with colleges and universities around the world to recognize and award IB graduates. For information regarding how the IB works with higher education, go to IBO.org

The Dakota Ridge IB Parent Organization exists to support the DRHS IB Diploma Programme, along with the DRHS Pre-IB and IB students and their families. All parents and guardians of DRHS Pre-IB and IB students are encouraged to get involved with the IB Parent Organization and they welcome new members!

To inquire about joining or becoming involved throughout the year, contact IB Parent Organization president Monica Sheehy at dribpg@gmail.com

• IB Parent Organization
  • President Monica Sheehy
  • Treasurer Melisse Segesman
  • dribpg@gmail.com

• Earning College Credit in Colorado