Grow the knowledge, skills, and passion to make the world a better and more peaceful place.
The IB program challenges students academically while honoring the importance of personal reflection and growth.
The IB Programme offers your child everything they need to become successful, well-rounded, thoughtful adults.
Features
- Purposeful Academic Design: Rigorous college-preparatory coursework designed to support both achievement and well-being.
- Best-Fit Pathway: IB Diploma Cohort or IB Diploma Foundations Cohort
- Robust Academic Supports through a unique partnership with the AVID College Readiness System
- Academic, collaborative, and personal skills for college and career
- Opportunities to reflect on creative, active, and service activities to deepen those experiences
- Focus on individual interests in student-driven projects junior & senior year
- Exploration of real-world applications in local and global contexts
Benefits
- College preparation in content knowledge as well as interpersonal and organizational skills
- Potential to earn up to 45 hours of college credit across all four years
- Increased comfort with uncertainty and problem-solving skills
- Build the life-long skills of reflecting on experiences, creating personal goals, and identifying areas of growth
- A supportive, collaborative learning community
We understand that the choice to give your child a unique education is a big one. In the International Baccalaureate Programme at Arlington High School, they will receive all of the benefits of the Arlington ISD whole-child education, plus an opportunity to nurture their passions in academics and beyond.
The IB Programme at Arlington High School recognizes that academic success must be balanced with personal, collaborative, and real-world perspectives to help students become impactful global citizens.
- Rigorous academics and balance for well-being
- Deep thinking and reflecting on successes & mistakes
- Engaging with complex ideas and finding ways to serve in a complex world
Your child has an incredible path ahead.
An IB education will equip students to make the world a better and more peaceful place.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is unique about the IB @ AHS?
The IB @ AHS blends the junior and senior year IB Diploma Programme with a freshman and sophomore year pathway that prepares students for success in the IB courses.
During 9th & 10th grade, students are required to take 3 advanced courses, at least 2 of which must be core courses (English, Math, Science, Social Studies).
In the junior and senior years, students may choose to pursue our prestigious IB Diploma Cohort, completing all courses required to earn the IB Diploma. If their other interests make it impossible for them to schedule all required courses, they may choose four IB courses (3 of which must be core) as part of our IB Foundations Cohort.
As an AHS student, you will have access to courses in our Fine Arts and Dual Language Academy. This includes honors fine arts courses, some math courses delivered in Spanish, and extended world languages opportunities.
For more details on these pathways and the courses offered, see our website.
During 9th & 10th grade, students are required to take 3 advanced courses, at least 2 of which must be core courses (English, Math, Science, Social Studies).
In the junior and senior years, students may choose to pursue our prestigious IB Diploma Cohort, completing all courses required to earn the IB Diploma. If their other interests make it impossible for them to schedule all required courses, they may choose four IB courses (3 of which must be core) as part of our IB Foundations Cohort.
As an AHS student, you will have access to courses in our Fine Arts and Dual Language Academy. This includes honors fine arts courses, some math courses delivered in Spanish, and extended world languages opportunities.
For more details on these pathways and the courses offered, see our website.
What grades are accepted into the program?
Students may enter the program at 9th grade, 10th grade, or 11th grade.
If you are a current 9th or 10th grader and your current academic courses do not align with the requirements above, you should still apply. We will look at all applications holistically.
If you are a current 9th or 10th grader who will be transferring schools, there may be UIL eligibility implications. Please reach out to your current coach and/or us for further details.
If you are a current 9th or 10th grader and your current academic courses do not align with the requirements above, you should still apply. We will look at all applications holistically.
If you are a current 9th or 10th grader who will be transferring schools, there may be UIL eligibility implications. Please reach out to your current coach and/or us for further details.
What qualifications are you looking for?
Students should have a demonstrated academic focus or an interest in developing a stronger academic focus, along with a willingness to grow and challenge themselves. Their course choices, grades, and attendance should show a commitment to schoolwork, taking on challenging classes, and a desire to develop good study habits, organization, and time management.
We are looking for students who want to be introspective -- think about their strengths and areas where they can grow. Our students should want to excel academically and personally, and they should have an interest in hearing different perspectives and working on local & global issues that interest them.
We are looking for students who want to be introspective -- think about their strengths and areas where they can grow. Our students should want to excel academically and personally, and they should have an interest in hearing different perspectives and working on local & global issues that interest them.
Are there costs associated with the program?
The only required cost associated with the program is the $15 exam fee for any AP courses a student elects to take.
How and when can I apply?
Apply using the link on this page (when the window is open).
If you have already applied for other specialized programs, you can still apply to the IB @ AHS. Doing so will not impact your application to other programs.
If you have already applied for other specialized programs, you can still apply to the IB @ AHS. Doing so will not impact your application to other programs.
When Will I Know if I Was Accepted?
Invitations from the first application window for specialized programs were sent out on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 4:30 p.m., directly from specialized program campuses.
Invitations from the second window will be sent on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, also from the specialized program campus. Families receive one notification, either an invitation from a specialized program campus or an email explaining other opportunities if a student is not accepted into a specialized program.
An invitation to a specialized program from the second window must be accepted by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 25, 2026 to guarantee placement. Directions for how to accept the invitation are included in the invitation sent by the specialized program campus.
Invitations from the second window will be sent on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, also from the specialized program campus. Families receive one notification, either an invitation from a specialized program campus or an email explaining other opportunities if a student is not accepted into a specialized program.
An invitation to a specialized program from the second window must be accepted by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 25, 2026 to guarantee placement. Directions for how to accept the invitation are included in the invitation sent by the specialized program campus.
Do you accept out-of-district students?
Residents outside of Arlington ISD boundaries will be offered admission after all Arlington ISD residents have been placed. Out-of-district siblings of current AHS or BHS students are exempt from this requirement.
Is transportation provided?
Yes, school buses run to and from each traditional high school in the district to Bowie High School each school day. Students are picked up at the traditional high school they are zoned to attend, transported to Bowie High School in the morning, and returned to their zoned campus each afternoon.
Transportation is not provided for out-of-district students.
Transportation is not provided for out-of-district students.