IB Academic Pathway

IB Prep and IB students have many options when it comes to course selection. While the IB Diploma has specific requirements, students can choose from a variety of courses that best fit their interests. This section provides information on IB Prep and IB course choices and suggestions.

Two Year IB Plan Video IB terms and abbreviations

The IB Prep program is designed to give ninth- and 10th-graders the content and skills needed to be successful when they enter IB formally as a junior.

LHS encourages IB Prep students to take economics and P.E. in ninth grade to meet the Jeffco graduation requirements as both can be difficult to fit once students begin their IB courses.

When IB Diploma students register for their junior year, they must create a two-year plan covering their remaining years.

During their junior and senior years, all IB Diploma students take and test in six IB subjects or “groups.” Students will choose three standard-level (SL) courses and three higher-level (HL) courses. Students may test in up to two SL subjects as juniors (except SL Chinese ab initio). Students will test in all HL courses senior year.

In addition to their tests in May, for each subject, students are also required to complete an internal assessment (IA). Students complete the IA with their teacher's guidance. Subject teachers score the IA, and scores are sent to IB. IB asks for samples of the IAs and moderates scores accordingly.

HL Math: Approaches and Analysis (two-year course)
SL Math: Approaches and Analysis (one-year course with Honors Pre-Calculus or Pre-Calculus as a prerequisite)
SL Math: Applications and Interpretations (statistics/intro to calculus; one-year course with at least Honors Algebra 2, Algebra 2 with summer homework and teacher approval or Pre-Calculus as a prerequisite)

Group 6: Electives

SL/HL Theatre (SL – one-year course; HL – two-year course)
SL/HL Film (SL – one-year course; HL – two-year course)
SL/HL Visual Arts (SL – one-year course; HL – two-year course)
SL IB music (offered every other year)
Students may also take any SL/HL course from any group for their IB Elective course

Students may also take any other IB SL/HL course offered in Groups 1-4 as their IB elective

IB Core

Theory of Knowledge: All IB Diploma students will take TOK second semester of their junior year and first semester of their senior year.
Extended Essay: Students are introduced to the EE through their TOK class in January of their junior year. They work with a faculty advisor beginning in the spring of their junior year through the EE submission date in September or October of their senior year.
Creativity, Activity and Service: CAS is presented to students in their IB English 11 class at the beginning of the year and or during Tiger Time. They participate in CAS activities from the beginning of their junior year through the end of their senior year.