Updates

Newsletter update September

Loudoun Valley High School is a fully authorized International Baccalaureate World School offering the Diploma Program. Our program is available to rising 9th grade students throughout the county through the LCPS International Baccalaureate program (LCPS Pre-IB).While formal IB Coursework begins in 11th grade, we support our students in a variety of ways on their journey to becoming an IB Diploma graduate starting in 9th grade.  

All students are put on an academic pathway that provides them access to the LCPS Pre-International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

• Binding the IB Diploma program together is the Core. CAS, TOK, and the Extended Essay -- required components of the IB Diploma -- stem from the Learner Profile. Students pursuing IB Certificates in individual classes do not pursue CAS, TOK, or the Extended Essay.

  • "CAS" stands for Creativity + Activity + Service. Across junior and senior years, diploma candidates must complete volunteer hours that are planned and supervised. Such participation is meant to encourage the appreciation of attitudes and values other than one's own, and to enable the student to communicate readily on both a philosophical and practical level. Learn more about CAS by visiting the IB website or by reading the CAS Handbook. 

  • "TOK" is the acronym for the Theory of Knowledge course. This course stimulates critical reflection on the knowledge and experiences acquired both inside and outside the classroom; evaluates the bases of knowledge and experience; and develops a personal mode of thought based on critical examination of evidence and argument.

  • The Extended Essay is a 4,000-word research paper on a topic of the Diploma candidate's choice. Development of this essay is guided by a faculty supervisor.

Contact

Please reach out to Michael.skvarch@lcps.org with any questions you might have about the International Baccalaureate at Loudoun Valley High School