By Nick Yates, ISB Communications
Published on Tuesday, August 13, 2024
The most recent graduates of the International School of Beijing (ISB) are celebrating yet another year of excellent results in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, with last year’s Grade 12 students achieving an average score of 35.5. That’s 5.2 points higher than the global average.
The IB is a prestigious two-year program resulting in a diploma recognized by universities worldwide. Demonstrating consistent excellence, ISB students’ IB average score has now been five to six points above the global average for more than 15 years.
For a second consecutive year, ISB students achieved a pass rate of 100 percent in their IB exams. While 13 ISB students scored 40 or more out of the maximum 45 points, the school is proud of all its learners realizing their potential in this challenging program. They excelled in a range of IB courses chosen carefully to reflect their interests and plans.
The ISB Class of 2024 have exciting futures ahead of them after discovering their passions, excelling academically, and growing socially and emotionally at the school. These students have received offers from universities worldwide, having identified the best-fit courses for them. The students’ success was achieved in difficult conditions that many peers elsewhere in the world will not have experienced to the same degree – this Class of 2024 had to contend with disruption from Covid-19 in three of their four High School years.
A carefully considered academic program
ISB’s High School academic program balances the breadth of the IB Diploma Programme with a choice of courses tailored to individual student interests. Unlike schools that limit student choices based on expected performance, ISB has an open enrollment philosophy to the IB program. Each student can participate if they and their University Advisors and School Counselors determine they will flourish and benefit and that the IB is the best route to achieving their aims for after Grade 12.
With almost 50 countries and regions represented in the student body and ISB offering a leading Chinese and dual language program among international schools, ISB students are very strong in languages. Eighteen of the 69 IB Diplomas awarded to last year’s Grade 12 ISB students were bilingual diplomas. This was the fourth year in a row in which more than a quarter of the ISB examinees earned a bilingual diploma.
Continuing ISB's tradition of excellence
ISB students benefit from high-quality teaching, carefully researched and crafted programs, and robust learning support and counseling. This ensures excellent outcomes for the students, with these exam results being one of the most eye-catching products of all their learning and character development. Forty members of the Class of 2024 studied at ISB all the way from Elementary School to Grade 12.
High School Principal Will Paananen said, “Well done to our newest alumni – you’re a credit to yourselves and to ISB! At this school, we build strong relationships between teachers, students, and families, and we set high expectations together. We also provide students with a high level of support to help them meet those expectations. After such strong preparation for life after school, I wish these graduates the best of luck in their future endeavors.”
ISB Head of School Daniel Rubenstein added, “ISB’s long history of academic excellence continues with these exam results. Throughout this school’s 45 years, ISB students have been taught by some of the world’s best teachers and benefited from quality programs that we keep updating in line with the latest research on education. We are experts in developing young people’s potential. As so many of these latest graduates were at ISB all the way from Elementary School, their success is truly representative of the high-quality education and enriching experience that we provide.”
While applauding the students, Mr. Rubenstein thanked the High School principals, IB Curriculum Coordinator, University Advisors, School Counselors, and teachers as well as all High School families for their work preparing the students for exams.
ISB will welcome students back to campus from August 15 as faculty, staff, and families are anticipating another year of academic excellence and challenging and joyful learning in 2024-2025.