DP @TJHS: Academics

DP Home Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) Summer Reading

Understanding IB Scores Postsecondary Planning Admissions Contact

The Diploma Programme connects students to an internationally-recognized curriculum with the opportunity to access coursework and skills beyond the requirements of the Virginia Advanced Studies Diploma. Students may also earn college credits based on their final score awarded by the IBO in each course and the policies of the college or university they choose to attend.

Students in the eleventh and twelfth grades have the opportunity to select IB Diploma Programme (DP) options to complete their high school coursework. The DP offers advanced academic options while continuing the focus on developing Learner Profile characteristics and the Approaches to Learning skills at a developmentally-appropriate level. Students who participate in the DP also continue to grow in their international-mindedness, learning to understand perspectives that will help them succeed in our increasingly connected world.

In the DP, students have two options:

Full participation in the DP, including taking six subject area courses and completing the DP core, including taking the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course. These students become Diploma Candidates; or
Selecting a limited number of DP courses along with other non-DP coursework.

DP courses are taught over two years, with students completing required assessments throughout each course and, as required, IB examinations at the end of Year 2.

DP Core Requirements

Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

2-year course examining how we build and use knowledge

Subject Brief (ibo.org)

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)

Student-created 18-month series of experiences in each of the Creativity, Activity, and Service categories

Subject Brief (ibo.org)

Extended Essay

College-level research paper on a student-selected topic or issue connected to one of the student's DP subject group courses

Subject Brief - Class of 2026 (ibo.org)

Subject Brief - Class of 2027 (ibo.org)

DP Subject Groups

Language and Literature

IB Language and Literature - English Higher Level

IB Language and Literature - English Standard Level

Subject Brief (ibo.org)

Language Acquisition

IB Spanish B Higher Level

IB Spanish B Standard Level

IB French B Standard Level

IB French ab initio Standard Level

IB Japanese ab initio Standard Level

(each cohort selects one language ab initio to be taught)

Subject Briefs (ibo.org):

Language B

Language ab initio

Language B Students may receive the Seal of Biliteracy on their Virginia diploma based on their final score from IBO. See the VDOE website for the most up-to-date rules.