About IB
About International Baccalaureate
International Baccalaureate (IB) education develops curious, knowledgeable, and caring young people who are prepared to learn across cultures, think critically, and contribute to their communities.
What Is IB?
The International Baccalaureate Organization is a nonprofit founded in 1965 in Geneva, Switzerland. It now offers four educational programmes for students ages 3-19 in more than 160 countries.
West High offers the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme, along with individual IB courses. These internationally recognized options combine challenging coursework with research, reflection, collaboration, service, and rigorous assessment.
The IB mission
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. IB programmes encourage students to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
The IB Learner Profile
The learner profile describes ten attributes valued by IB World Schools and developed throughout the IB student experience. IB learners strive to be:
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
Together, these attributes help students grow as independent learners, thoughtful collaborators, and responsible members of local and global communities.
IB at West High
West High became an IB World School in 1984 and was the first school in Utah authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme. For nearly two decades, West was Utah's only IB school and became a leader in the state's IB community.
In 2013, West became an early adopter of the IB Career-related Programme. Today, students can participate through the Diploma Programme, the Career-related Programme, or individual IB courses.
West's commitment to IB for All gives students multiple ways to experience rigorous, internationally minded learning. Successful IB students learn to advocate for themselves, reflect on their growth, pursue ambitious academic goals, and collaborate with others.
Benefits of an IB Education
IB students build skills and habits that support success in college, careers, and community life. Benefits highlighted in IB research include:
- Strong preparation for college-level reading, writing, research, and discussion
- Growth in critical thinking, persistence, reflection, and global-mindedness
- International recognition by colleges and universities
- Opportunities to earn college credit and advanced standing through IB examinations
- Meaningful experience with independent research, service, and collaboration
Utah colleges and universities recognize IB coursework and examinations for college credit. Students can use the Utah System of Higher Education's annual IB credit guidance to understand how IB courses may satisfy general education requirements and reduce future tuition costs.