If my student enters IB, will they be
able to have a well-rounded high
school experience?
In short, the answer is a resounding YES!
In addition to being involved with family,
community, and church activities, many IB
students at SFHS hold after school jobs.
Most are involved in extracurricular
activities including academics, arts, and
athletics. Over the past seven years, IB
students have participated in the following:
Academic Bowl
Beta Club
Dance
Drama
Future Business Leaders
of America
First Vote
Gamers Club
Habitat for Humanity
German Club
Latin National Honor
Society
Mock Trial
National Art Honor
Society
S. A. D. D.
Spanish National Honor
Society
Thespian Society
Anime Club
Band
Debate
Equestrian Club
Fellowship of Christian
Athletes
French National Honor
Society
Improv. Troup
Key Club
Literary Club
Math Team
Mu Alpha Theta
Honor Society
National Honor Society
Science Olympiad
Student Government
Football
Wrestling
Soccer
Basketball
Golf
Hockey
Cross Country
Track
Volleyball
Lacrosse
Swimming
Baseball
Regardless of what you may have
heard, IB students do more than
just study!
What is the IB Diploma, and does it really
matter?
The IB Diploma is recognized by over 850 colleges & universities in
the United States and Canada. Most major colleges & universities
have admissions policies that cover 95% of the students earning the
IB Diploma. The Board of Regents for the State of Georgia
established IB Credit Policies in 2008.
The IB curriculum is internationally recognized for its rigor and
quality. One of the major components used in the college
admissions process is the rigor/quality of the academic program of
study. The SFHS IB Diploma Program is one of the most rigorous
and challenging academic programs offered at South Forsyth High
School. South Forsyth High School is one of only twenty-six schools
in the State of Georgia to offer the IB Diploma.
Research shows that academic rigor increases student performance
on standardized tests including the PSAT, SAT and ACT—tests used
to determine student qualifications for college admissions.
South Forsyth High School
International Baccalaureate
Diploma Program
What is the IB
Diploma Program
and Is It For Me?
What is the course sequence for students
seeking the IB Diploma?
Here is an example of what an IB student would take
during the diploma program:
Junior Year:
IB History of the Americas HL
IB English HL
French 4, Spanish 4, German 3, or Latin 3
IB Biology SL or IB Physics
IB Math Studies SL
2 Electives
Junior Year Exams: IB Biology and IB Math Studies
Senior Year:
IB 20th Century History
IB English HL
IB French HL, IB Spanish HL, IB German HL or IB Latin SL
Theory of Knowledge
IB 6th Subject Elective
US Government and Economics
1 Elective
Senior Year Exams: English, Foreign Language,
History, 6th Subject
South Forsyth High School
585 Peachtree Parkway
Cumming, GA 30041
Dr. Jason Branch, Principal
Mrs. Brandi Cannizzaro, IB Coordinator
Phone: 770.781.2264 x100448
Fax: 770.888.1224
E-mail: bcannizzaro@forsyth.k12.ga.us
What is the IB
Diploma
Program?
What do IB students at South Forsyth
High School study?
IB Diploma Program students study six subjects in
five areas during their 11th & 12th grade years:
 Literature and Composition
 Foreign Language—French, Spanish, German,
or Latin
 Mathematics—Math Studies SL or Mathematics
HL
 Experimental Sciences—Biology or Physics
 Humanities—History of the Americas
 Arts/Electives—Visual Arts, Psychology or
Music
In addition, students take an interdisciplinary course
call Theory of Knowledge during their senior year,
which challenges the students to question their
basis of knowledge and understand “how they
know what they know”
IB students complete a program called Creativity,
Action, Service (CAS) which involves participation in
community service, and for example, theater
production and sports. Students are expected to
document 150 CAS hours during their 11th & 12th
grade years.
Finally, IB students are required to write an
Extended Essay of up to 4,000 words. This is an
independent research project mentored by SFHS
teachers that is meant to acquaint students with the
kind of independent research and writing skills
expected of them at the university level.
What does my student need to do in order to
enter the IB Diploma Program?
Although teacher recommendations are an important part of the
registration process, the final decision is the student’s with
guidance from parents. No student who has taken the prerequisite
courses and wants to be in the IB Program will be denied admission to
the IB Program by South Forsyth High School. *Students planning to
join the IB program in 11th grade may attend SFHS as an out-ofdistrict student beginning in 9th grade..
The IB Diploma Program at South Forsyth High School begins in
the 11th grade. Students planning to enter the program are
strongly encouraged to pursue Honors or AP classes in the
9th and 10th grades. Students also have the option of taking
AP courses during 11th and 12th grade, where available.
Prospective IB students must have successfully completed the
following:
 Level IV of French or Spanish or Level III of Latin or German
by the end of 11th grade.
 Students complete Accelerated Math I, II, and III or Math I,
II, III, and IV prior to taking IB Math Studies.
 Students interested in taking AP Calculus should complete
Accelerated Math I, II, and III by the end of 10th grade.
Students would take IB Mathematics HL in 12th grade.
Is there a cost for the IB program?
Yes. Unless there is a demonstrated financial need, students are
expected to pay the costs of their own exams & assessments.
For the class of 2009, the total cost for 6 subject area exams, the
Extended Essay, and the Theory of Knowledge research paper is
$635. Forsyth County Schools currently pays and will continue
to pay for all administrative, curricular, and instructional costs
related to the IB Program.
SFHS IB Class of 2008
Average SAT Score: 1316
Critical Reading: 649 Math: 667
Average ACT Composite Score: 29
Average Overall GPA: 3.995
Top 10% of Class: 32 IB Diploma Candidates
Colleges and Universities attended by IB
Graduates 2002-2008
Amherst College
Auburn University
Baylor University
Berry College
Boston College
Brigham Young University
Clemson University
College of Charleston
College of William and Mary
Converse College
Davidson College
Duke University
Elon College
Emory University
Flagler College
Florida State University
Franciscan University
Furman University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia State College & University
Georgia Perimeter College
Georgia Southern University
Georgia State University
Harding University
Iowa State University
Loyola University-Chicago
Kennesaw State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Mercer University
New York University
North Carolina State University
Oglethorpe University
Ohio State University
Oxford College of Emory University
Presbyterian College
Randolph-Macon College
Rhodes College
Savannah College of Art and Design
Spring Hill College
Tulane University
University of Alabama-Birmingham
University of Georgia
University of Illinois
University of Miami
University of Mississippi
University of North Carolina – Wilmington
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
University of Notre Dame
University of Rhode Island
University of South Carolina
University of the South
Valdosta State University
Vanderbilt University
Warren Wilson College
Washington and Lee University
Wofford College