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International Baccalaureate

The Montessori School of Raleigh is an official IB World School for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. It is the first and only Montessori high school in the state and the only independent school in the Triangle to offer this highly regarded curriculum. The two-year program emphasizes critical thinking, rigorous research and exams, thesis writing, a “Theory of Knowledge” course, and other advanced college preparation.

As a compelling complement to our Montessori program, with its global perspective, emphasis on self-reflection and self-directed learning, and integration of a focus on peace and justice, MSR offers the IB program as an option for students in grades 11 and 12.

Students in the MSR high school experience the same balance of rigor and guidance that defines our Montessori approach at every level. Instruction is tailored to follow student interests and aptitudes, while challenging them to stretch beyond their comfort zones ensuring our students remain engaged, inspired, and excited about learning and expanding their abilities.

More about the IB Diploma Programme

A recent study proves the value colleges see in this curriculum:

  • The average acceptance rate of IB Diploma Programme students into university/college is 22 percentage points higher than the average acceptance rate of the total population.
  • The acceptance rate of IB Diploma Programme students in the most highly selective institutions is between 3 and 13 percentage points higher compared to the total population’s acceptance rate.

We share these statistics, but not to suggest that MSR fosters the kind of tightly structured, highly competitive learning environment normally associated with such metrics of success. MSR’s ambitions for our students is much more expansive. It is, however, meaningful that our optional IB Diploma track in 11th and 12th grades, integrated with our comprehensive Montessori program, will give our students an additional edge in their educations and in the college admissions process.

Click here to read the IB Assessment Policy

*Only schools authorized by the International Baccalaureate can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme or the IB Career-related Certificate (IBCC). For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org.

IB Courses

  • Group 1: Studies in language and literature (Language A)
  • Group 2: Language acquisition (Language B)
  • Group 3: Individuals and societies
  • Group 4: Sciences
  • Group 5: Mathematics
  • Group 6: The arts

The International Baccalaureate Merit Scholarship

The International Baccalaureate Merit Scholarship recognizes an incoming 11th grade full IB Diploma student who has a proven record of academic excellence, demonstrated involvement in student leadership and who exhibits exemplary character. This scholarship will fund $5,000 a year for two years of the IB Diploma Program.