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 at Bowie 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.
At Bowie High School, we cultivate lifelong learners, honor academic excellence, and develop caring young people ready to thrive in a diverse and ever-changing world.
- 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 @ BHS?
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) is a premier, globally recognized college preparatory curriculum focused on developing the whole person through meaningful learning experiences.
At Bowie High School, collaborative classrooms inspire critical thinking, unique opportunities foster empathy and open-mindedness, and students grow in the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.
As an AVID National Demonstration School, Bowie provides targeted support for IB learners in a college-ready culture grounded in research-based strategies to support success. Over 60% of our IB Diploma students are also AVID Scholars.
During 9th and 10th grade, the IB @BHS specialized program provides a structured pathway, engaging students in a foundational advanced academics sequence designed to build the skills, habits, and confidence needed for long-term success with an intentional transition into the IB Diploma Programme.
Beginning in junior year, students will determine the IB @ BHS pathway that is the right fit for them:
For more details on these pathways and the courses offered, see our website.
At Bowie High School, collaborative classrooms inspire critical thinking, unique opportunities foster empathy and open-mindedness, and students grow in the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.
As an AVID National Demonstration School, Bowie provides targeted support for IB learners in a college-ready culture grounded in research-based strategies to support success. Over 60% of our IB Diploma students are also AVID Scholars.
During 9th and 10th grade, the IB @BHS specialized program provides a structured pathway, engaging students in a foundational advanced academics sequence designed to build the skills, habits, and confidence needed for long-term success with an intentional transition into the IB Diploma Programme.
Beginning in junior year, students will determine the IB @ BHS pathway that is the right fit for them:
- The IB Diploma Programme Cohort or
- The IB at BHS Foundations Cohort.
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 in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade.
As an open-enrollment program, we welcome students with varied academic backgrounds and provide intentional support for those new to advanced coursework. All applicants will be looked at 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.
As an open-enrollment program, we welcome students with varied academic backgrounds and provide intentional support for those new to advanced coursework. All applicants will be looked at 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. Some students may also choose to purchase optional IB @ BHS apparel (such as T-shirts or hoodies).
How Do I Apply and When is the Deadline?
An application must be completed for consideration to a specialized program. Families can apply for up to three specialized programs and rank them by first, second and third choice.
The first application window has already closed. A second application window for the 2026 - 2027 school year opens Monday, April 20, 2026 and closes on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
The first application window has already closed. A second application window for the 2026 - 2027 school year opens Monday, April 20, 2026 and closes on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
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.