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The International Baccalaureate Diploma

Graduating Students

MPI has a full range of academics to challenge the best and brightest students. Mid-Pacific Institute is the only school in Hawaii to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Administered through world headquarters in Switzerland, Wales and a North American regional office in New York, the IB Program started in the mid-1960s. More than 900 schools in 100 countries are accredited to offer the program.

Students awarded the diploma have demonstrated a strong commitment to learning, both in terms of the mastery of subject content and in the development of study skills.

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After taking the IB Diploma, students have acquired sophisticated independent study, research and time management skills, all of which are needed for success in our competitive world. The international elements of the curriculum provides students with a global perspective, essential to the 21st century.

The IB at MPI

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The IB program at Mid-Pacific Institute is growing as students choose to take advantage of this internationally acclaimed program. This reflects a national trend in that the IB program is growing faster in North America than anywhere else in the world. The IB curriculum has an international flavor and students are assessed by international educational standards. Successful IB students at MPI know that they are a match for the brightest minds of their generation around the world! An integral part of most IB courses-unlike Advanced Placement courses-is that 20 to 30 percent of the final grade is derived from assignments completed during the course and graded by MPI teachers according to internationally agreed to guidelines. This style of assessment particularly benefits students who are not the best test takers. To ensure that international standards are met, samples of student coursework are mailed to examiners all over the world.

Why Choose the IB Program?

  1. It is a rigorous academic program meeting the needs of academically-motivated students.
  2. It allows students to pursue a challenging program of study.
  3. Even more than the acquisition of knowledge, the IB focuses on the development of skills and values students will use in college and in life.
  4. It involves participating in a "global" school in which students share common curricula, examinations and standards.
  5. It offers the possibility of course credit or advanced placement at many universities

IB Courses

The IB curriculum consists of six subject groups. Within these groups, Mid-Pacific Institute offers many choices.

  1. Subject Groups include Native Language, Foreign Language, Social Studies,Science, Mathematics and Electives/Art.
  2. Courses may include English, French, Japanese, Spanish, History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Systems, Math, Theater Arts, Asian Art, Art & Design and Information Technology in a Global Society.

All IB Diploma students also take a course entitled "Theory of Knowledge," which stimulates critical reflection on how knowledge is attained in each academic discipline. In addition, students develop individual research skills culminating in an original "extended essay." Student use the Internet as well as other sources to gather information. Finally, in order to encourage the education of the whole child, IB Diploma students are required to become involved in community action projects. Athletics, club participation and services projects can all contribute to the IB Diploma. If a student does not wish to take the full diploma, any of the IB subjects can be studied separately, enabling students to be awarded IB certificates.

College credit

Colleges tend to give favorable consideration in their admission process to students who have challenged themselves in high school by taking IB courses. In addition, if students are successful in IB examinations, many colleges will give credit for these courses. Some colleges will give sophomore standings to full IB Diploma recipients.

More than 800 colleges and universities in North America have established written policies that explain how they evaluate IB credentials. These policies provide information on admission, advanced credit and advanced standing for the IB student. These policies are available on the IB web site www.ibo.org

The IB Mission

The educational philosophy of the IB organization is found in its mission statement: "Through comprehensive and balanced curricula coupled with challenging assessments, the International Baccalaureate Organization aims to assist schools in their endeavors to develop the individual talents of young people and teach them to relate the experience of the classroom to the realities of the world outside.

Beyond intellectual rigor and high academic standards, strong emphasis is placed on the ideals of international understanding and responsible citizenship, to the end that IB students may become critical and compassionate thinkers, lifelong learners and informed participants in local and world affairs, conscious of the shared humanity that binds all people together, while respecting the variety of cultures and attitudes that makes for the richness of life."

AP Scholars

Each year, the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board recognizes high school students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement on their AP examinations. The type of AP Scholar Award depends on the number of AP courses taken and the examination score achieved.