Updates
IB Diploma Interest - Update - May 2025
We are in the process of finalizing student course requests for the 25-26 school year. Our last day to make changes for student course requests is May 30th. This message is for those students and families who are interested in enrolling in courses for the 25-26 school year that align with the IB Diploma pathway. The notes below are guidelines and recommendations for students interested in the full IB Diploma.
May 30th is also the last date to indicate your interest in pursuing the IB Diploma at Loudoun Valley High School, through enrolling in the required courses.
It is important to note that ALL IB courses (with the exception of Theory of Knowledge) are available to ALL students at Loudoun Valley once they enter 11th grade, and meet any required prerequisites.
All IB Courses are college level, college credit eligible courses.
The IB Diploma pathway is a specific course of study wherein a student takes a full set of IB courses over their 11th and 12th grade years in pursuit of earning the internationally recognized IB Diploma in tandem with a VA Advanced Studies Diploma.
Rising 9th grade students, if you are interested in pursuing the the IB diploma:
Please ensure that you are enrolled in a Spanish, French, or German course for the 25-26 school year.
Connect with your counselor if you are interested in the IB Diploma and are not enrolled in one of the languages indicated above.
Rising 10th grade students, if you are interested in pursuing the the IB diploma:
Please ensure that you are enrolled in a Spanish, French, or German course for the 25-26 school year.
Please ensure that you are enrolled in AP US Government for the 25-26 school year.
Please ensure that you have had a conversation with your counselor about how you will meet the Economics and Personal Finance graduation requirement.
Connect with your counselor if you are interested in the IB Diploma and do not meet one of the criteria interested above.
Rising 11th grade students, interested in pursuing the IB Diploma:
Please ensure that you are enrolled in a qualifying “IB” course in each of the following areas:
IB English
IB History
IB Mathematics
IB Language Acquisition (French, Spanish, or German)
IB Science
IB Elective
IB Theory of Knowledge
Please ensure that you have a balance of 3 High Level (HL) courses and 3 Standard Level (SL) courses.
Please reach out to Michael.skvarch@lcps.org with any questions pertaining to the International Baccalaureate (IB). Please reach out to your counselor for any updates to your course request.
Rising 12th grade students, actively pursuing the IB Diploma:
Please ensure that you are taking the second level of all required courses.
Please reach out to Michael.skvarch@lcps.org and your counselor with any questions regarding your schedule.
Additional information
All students at Loudoun Valley High school are eligible to enroll in the IB Diploma program, by taking a full course load of IB courses. In addition, all students have the ability to take selected IB courses as they wish. IB courses are available to all students starting in 11th grade.
If you are interested in learning more about the International Baccalaureate program you can check out our website at www.lcps.org/lvhib or visit the official IB website at www.ibo.org. Please reach out to Michael.skvarch@lcps.org with any questions you might have about the Loudoun Valley High School International Baccalaureate program. If you have any questions about your student’s course request, please reach out to your student’s school counselor.
Counselors
9th & 10th Grades
A - G Charles.Smith@lcps.org
H - O Adria.Frie@lcps.org
P - Z Matthew.Siler@lcps.org
11th & 12th Grades
A - G candala.grim@lcps.org
H - O Joseph.Neidrick@lcps.org
P - Z Shelli.Cook@lcps.org
Please reach out with any questions you might have.
Newsletter Update January
The purpose of this is to provide you information about our International Baccalaureate program that might be useful as students continue to explore their course selection for the 25-26 school year. This email is a follow up to the IB Scheduling Workshop held on Wednesday, January 22nd.
IB Information, Question, and Answer Night Slide Deck
Slide 8 and 9 - IB Diploma Course offerings for 25-26
Slide 10 - An Example Schedule of an IB Diploma Student
Slide 11 - Considerations for course selection for current 8th grade students
Slide 12 - Considerations for course selection for current 9th grade students
Slide 13 -Considerations for course selection for current 10th grade students
Linked here are common questions that have been asked about the International Baccalaureate.
Please reach out to Michael.skvarch@lcps.org with any questions you might have about the International Baccalaureate Program.
Loudoun Valley High School is a fully authorized International Baccalaureate World School offering the Diploma Program. Our program is available to rising 9th grade students throughout the county through the LCPS International Baccalaureate program (LCPS Pre-IB).While formal IB Coursework begins in 11th grade, we support our students in a variety of ways on their journey to becoming an IB Diploma graduate starting in 9th grade.
IB Curriculum and Courses
All students are put on an academic pathway that provides them access to the Loudoun Valley High School International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
IB Core
Binding the IB Diploma program together is the Core. CAS, TOK, and the Extended Essay -- required components of the IB Diploma -- stem from the Learner Profile. Students pursuing IB Certificates in individual classes do not pursue CAS, TOK, or the Extended Essay.
"CAS" stands for Creativity + Activity + Service. Across junior and senior years, diploma candidates must complete volunteer hours that are planned and supervised. Such participation is meant to encourage the appreciation of attitudes and values other than one's own, and to enable the student to communicate readily on both a philosophical and practical level. Learn more about CAS by visiting the IB website or by reading the CAS Handbook.
"TOK" is the acronym for the Theory of Knowledge course. This course stimulates critical reflection on the knowledge and experiences acquired both inside and outside the classroom; evaluates the bases of knowledge and experience; and develops a personal mode of thought based on critical examination of evidence and argument.
The Extended Essay is a 4,000-word research paper on a topic of the Diploma candidate's choice. Development of this essay is guided by a faculty supervisor.
Contact
Please reach out to Michael.skvarch@lcps.org with any questions you might have about the International Baccalaureate at Loudoun Valley High School