International Baccalaureate Programs at MCS

Marietta High School has been an IB World School since July 1995. MCS offers the IB Diploma Programme, a challenging two-year curriculum that leads to a qualification that is widely recognized by the world’s leading universities.

On December 14, 2007, Sawyer Road Elementary became one of 13 IB World Schools in Georgia authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP) designed for students aged 5 to 12. On September 1, 2014, A.L. Burruss Elementary was also authorized to offer the IB PYP Program.

The PYP is one of three programs offered by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).

On April 23, 2008, the school district became the first IB World School district in Georgia authorized to offer the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) for grades 6-10. With the addition of the IB Middle Years Program to the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) offered at Sawyer Road Elementary and the long-standing IB Diploma Program (DP) at Marietta High School, MCS is one of only a few school systems nationwide able to provide the full IB (K-12) continuum.

Implementation of the IB MYP in ninth grade began during the 2008-09 school year and tenth grade begins in 2009-2010. The 2008-2009 seventh-grade class was the first group of MCS students to achieve the MYP Certificate level at the end of the tenth grade.

PYP, MYP, DP & CP Programs:

• Have a strong international dimension
• Draw on content from educational cultures around the world
• Require study across a broad range of subjects
• Include both individual subjects and transdisciplinary areas
• Give special emphasis to learning languages
• Focus on developing the skills of learning
• Provide opportunities for individual and collaborative planning and research
• Encourage students to become responsible members of their community.

All IB Programs include:

• A written curriculum or curriculum framework
• Student assessment appropriate to the age range
• Professional development and networking opportunities for teachers
• Support, authorization and Program evaluation for the schools