International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme

“The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.”

Middle Years Programme Candidate School*

What is an IB Education?

International Baccalaureate (IB) is a framework, not a curriculum. The programme follows three guiding principles: holistic learning, intercultural awareness, and communication. It focuses on working with diverse people with different perspectives.

This framework helps develop self-reliant learners, interested in discovery, learning, application, and learning about the environment and cultures around them. Students take responsibility for their own learning.

These students will:

ask challenging questions
think critically
learn across disciplines
develop research skills proven to help them in higher education

Why do Families Choose IB?

Parents who want the best possible education for their children choose this programme because it includes:

Rigorous Learning Objectives

Ensures breadth and depth of understanding through study in eight subject groups.

Student-Centered Learning

Provides students opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and mindset they need to be successful.

International Perspectives

Helps students appreciate their own culture and personal history, as well as the values and traditions
of others.

Multi-Lingual
Education

Every student in the program will have a language class.

Develop Learning Strategies

Students focus on approaches to learning with a critical lens and evaluate application of their knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Learner Profile: What Does an IB Student Look Like?

At the core of all IB Programmes is the learner profile, 10 attributes fostered in students that promote their development as responsible members of their local, national, and global communities.

What does it mean to be Principled?

Being Principled means being someone who will “act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere.

Parent Learner Profile Activity: How can you help develop Principled students at home?

Students of principle take responsibility for their actions and the consequences that accompany them. Learn more about how to develop that attribute.

Programme News

IB Parent Night FAQs

Jun 5, 2025

Download FAQs

The IB Middle Years Programme Info Night | Jan. 16

Dec 13, 2024

DUSD’s 5th grade elementary families are invited to learn about the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) at Sussman Middle School.

You are invited to our Future Pioneer Night | Jan. 9

Dec 4, 2024

You are invited to join us for a first-hand look at our beautiful campus. Meet our principal and learn more about the great programs available to our students.

How to Apply

We are excited that you are interested in this program! Students who demonstrate dedication to learning and value education are good candidates for an IB MYP journey. The application window for the 2026-2027 school year will open in January 2026.

Incoming 6th grade students must submit an application which must contain:



Submit Records

4th grade grades, behavior, and attendance records



Recommendations

Minimum of one teacher recommendation (provide email for digital entry)

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Transfer Requirements

If requesting a transfer, must meet all permit requirements (minimum 2.5 GPA and permit release, etc...)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do IB teachers receive special training?

All MYP teachers receive professional development in the IB’s approaches to teaching and approaches to learning from certified IB workshop leaders. This is a requirement for IB World Schools implementing the MYP.

Are IB programmes considered “gifted” programmes?

In most cases, the MYP requires schoolwide implementation and encompasses all students. All teachers in MYP classrooms must participate in collaborative planning and reflection to make their teaching practices consistent and foster a holistic approach to education. A growing body of evidence suggests a positive relationship between teacher collaboration and student achievement.

Students who complete the MYP are well-prepared to undertake the IB Diploma Programme or Career-related Programme.

Does implementing an IB programme mean my child’s school will not teach local or national standards such as the Common Core?

The IB is committed to ensuring that students in IB programmes meet and exceed local or national standards. With the implementation of any IB programme, schools are required to examine their curriculum carefully to ensure that there is alignment with local, state or national standards. More information on the IB and the Common Core is available at www.ibo.org.

Have studies been done on the impact of the MYP?

The IB places great value on external validation of its programmes, curriculums, and professional development. A recent study found that Middle Years Programme students in a US public school district were more likely to achieve a proficient or advanced
performance level on state mathematics and science assessments than their counterparts in five comparison schools. Additional studies on programme impact, quality assurance, programme development, and assessment research are available at www.ibo.org/research.

Are there external assessments in the MYP like in the Diploma Programme?

In the final year of the programme, the optional MYP eAssessment provides a balanced and age-appropriate strategy that schools can use to validate student achievement: Students demonstrate their understanding and skills through classroom performance, onscreen final examinations, and a personal project conducted over an extended period of time. Students undertaking external assessments are eligible for IB Course Results and the IB MYP Certificate. Find out more about MYP assessment.

How can I learn more about the IB and MYP?

• Visit the IB website at www.ibo.org
• Attend school meetings and events
• Speak with your school’s MYP coordinator
• Speak with your child’s MYP classroom teacher

*Sussman is an IB Candidate School* for the Middle Years Programme.“This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education that Sussman believes is important for our students.”

Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.

Learn more about the IB and its programmes: www.ibo.org.