IB Course Offerings at Hillside High School
At Hillside High School, IB students engage in a challenging and balanced academic program designed to prepare them for success in college and beyond. The IB Diploma Programme offers a variety of courses across six subject groups, each taught at either the Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL). Students choose one course from each of the first five subject groups, then either select a course in the arts as their sixth subject or choose an additional course from Individuals & Societies or the Sciences to complete a well-rounded program of study.
Each IB student takes at least three, and no more than four, courses at the HL over two years. The remaining courses are taken at the SL. While HL and SL courses are assessed using the same grading criteria, HL courses require students to demonstrate a broader and deeper understanding of the subject matter.
Each IB course concludes with a combination of assessments, including both internal tasks and externally graded exams. The results are combined to produce a final score on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 being the highest. A score of 4 is generally considered a passing mark, indicating satisfactory understanding and performance in the subject and potentially earning the IB student college credit.
The Core
In addition to their six academic courses, all IB Diploma students complete three core components that enrich their learning experience and support their personal and academic growth. These are:
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
The Extended Essay (EE)
Together, these elements help students develop as reflective thinkers, effective communicators, and principled leaders.
Learn more about the IB Core: EE, TOK, and CAS