All interested high school students from the Class of 2023 and beyond  will be eligible to seek admission into the Diploma Programme at Frisco High School. Information Night meetings will be held at Frisco High School in October.  Students will complete a commitment form in November to indicate their desire to gain IB Diploma Programme admission and become Frisco High School students beginning in their 9th grade year. There are not specific requirements to submit a commitment form. If there is more interest than there are seats available, a lottery system will be utilized to select students for the programme.

Middle school students who are interested in the IB Diploma Programme are encouraged to take advanced algebra 1 in the 8th grade along with Spanish 1 and health is possible.  Completing these high school credits in middle school allows for more flexibility in planning for the high school years. In addition, students are encouraged to select advanced course options for more rigorous middle school courses.

Because the IB Diploma Programme at Frisco High School is an option for families and not a requirement, parents of students who live outside of the FHS attendance zone will be responsible for providing their own transportation to and from Frisco High School.  IB students who live within the FHS zone and are eligible for regular bus service may continue to utilize district transportation.

Eighth grade students who are selected for the IB Diploma Programme will complete the regular high school planning process to map out their initial 4-year plan. The IB Coordinator will then meet with students in the spring to update their 4-year plan to include IB Diploma Programme courses along with all FISD graduation requirements. Click HERE for an example of a high school plan that includes IB course offerings.

Students within the IB Diploma Programme will be Frisco High School students beginning in the ninth grade. They will be ranked in accordance with District policy along with other Frisco High School students. Due to the rigorous nature of IB courses, IB will receive the same weight of 6.0 as Advanced Placement courses in the calculation for GPA for rank, starting with Class of 2023. Read more about the District’s GPA for rank policy.

Yes. Students within the IB Diploma Programme are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities like fine arts, athletics, academic competitions, clubs and organizations at Frisco High School. Students within the IB Diploma Programme will work closely with the IB coordinator and their guidance counselor to develop their four-year high school plan.

The IB Diploma Programme is an academically challenging and balanced programme of education, with final examinations, that prepares juniors and seniors for success at university and in life beyond. It has been designed to address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students. The programme has gained recognition and respect from the world’s leading universities. The IB aspires to help schools develop well-rounded students who respond to challenges with optimism and an open mind, are confident in their own identities, make ethical decisions, join with others in celebrating our common humanity and are prepared to apply what they learn in real-world, complex and unpredictable situations. Learn more at www.ibo.org.

The decision to pursue the Diploma Programme at Frisco High School was made after thoughtful planning and consideration. There has been strong community interest in bringing International Baccalaureate to Frisco ISD for many years and it was a goal outlined during the District’s 2015 strategic planning process. Frisco High School is centrally located in the District and has capacity to serve additional students. Student participation and cost will be key considerations in determining whether to expand the programme in the future. There are currently no plans to introduce the Diploma Programme at other FISD high schools.

Frisco ISD is not planning to implement the IB Middle Years Programme at this time. FISD middle schools provide a wide range of opportunities for students, including fine arts, athletics, STEM electives, academic competitions and rigorous coursework. District leaders value student choice and believe that middle school should be a time for students to explore their interests and identify their strengths. The current structure of the IB Middle Years Programme requires a set pathway of coursework that would limit student choice. The District will continue to research and examine additional programming at the middle school level that will best meet students’ needs.

No. In Frisco ISD, students accepted into the IB Diploma Programme at Frisco High School will be required to take the full IB Diploma coursework. The IB coordinator and campus guidance counselor will work with IB Diploma students to help them develop their four-year high school plan with the appropriate courses.

Current Frisco ISD students who have gained admission into the International Baccalaureate programme will begin as ninth graders at Frisco High School. In ninth grade, students will receive academic guidance and additional support with their schedule in order to ensure that they take the courses necessary to prepare them for success in IB coursework during their junior and senior years, as well as to ensure that they meet all the requirements for graduation. Additionally, it is important for students to attend beginning in ninth grade in order to build relationships with Frisco High School staff and develop study groups with other students in their cohort.

There may be an opportunity for students to enter the program their sophomore year  if there is space available. Any interested parent/student should contact Jenna Gates, IB Coordinator, for additional information..

Frisco ISD offers a robust Advanced Placement program with 30 courses available and was honored to be placed on College Board’s 2018 AP District Honor Roll. Frisco ISD remains dedicated to its AP program and will continue to offer AP courses at each high school. AP course offerings may vary from campus to campus based on student interest and staffing needs.

IB Diploma Programme students at Frisco High School may also take AP coursework in their freshman and sophomore years.

Students in Frisco ISD have numerous opportunities to take rigorous coursework, earn college credit and prepare for college. Students can take dual credit, Advanced Placement courses, career and technical education (CTE) courses, and will soon be able to take International Baccalaureate courses. Most universities and colleges review student applications holistically and take into account a variety of factors including coursework, college admissions test scores, extracurricular activities, leadership experience and service within the community. FISD recommends students research the admissions requirements of colleges and universities that they are interested in as they make course selections.

For more information, please email Jenna Gates, FHS IB Coordinator, at GatesJ@friscoisd.org for additional information.