Tri-County International Academy

Your local school working together with the Tri-County Educational Service Center and other area schools has made available to you an exciting, high-powered program. The Tri-County International Academy offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

Students who participate in this program will receive a college preparatory education that is globally recognized for its excellence. In addition to receiving superior college preparation, students often receive advantageous admissions consideration, extra scholarship consideration, and actual college credits.

Students will attend the academy housed at Wooster High School while participating in sports and music programs as well as electives (as scheduling allows) at their local or “home” school. Students will graduate with a diploma from their local school and the opportunity to earn the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

The IB Diploma Programme is for highly motivated students. It is a total program in grades 11 and 12 that has an emphasis on international understanding as well as academic excellence. A student who wants a highly challenging, creative and different kind of education will benefit from the IB Diploma Programme which college admissions officers recognize as providing top tier students.

Areas of Study

As noted, the IB Diploma Programme is a total program taught at an advanced level. Academically the curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and depth of understanding. Being a total program, students will have advanced two-year courses in:

• English
• Second Language (Spanish, German, or beginning German)
• Social Studies (History of the Americas which includes the government requirement)
• Science (Chemistry, Advanced Biology, and/or Physics)
• Math (requires mastery through Algebra II and goes on to topics of functions, trigonometry, matrices, vectors, statistics, probability, and calculus)
• Theory Of Knowledge (TOK) a philosophy of learning course
• Completion of “Creativity, Action, and Service” hours emphasizing citizenship
• Complete a comprehensive research paper

Individual Class Options

Beginning in the Fall of 2008, students may elect to participate in select classes rather than the full Diploma Programme. Successful completion of individual courses can earn students IB Certificates for those course areas and may ready students to take Advanced Placement tests in those areas. Participation in individual courses may be limited by schedule conflicts, space availability, and completion of necessary prerequisite classes.

Getting Ready

While this is a program for students in their junior and senior years, students need to be well prepared to succeed. That means students who are thinking about applying for admission to the Tri-County International Academy are encouraged to do the following in grades 7-10:

• Take classes at advanced or honors levels
• Take the most challenging math possible; complete algebra I and II and geometry by the end of grade 10; start H.S. math courses in middle school if possible
• Start foreign language as soon as possible and progress as far as possible by the end of grade 10; completion of level II in a language is the absolute minimum for entry into any non-introductory (ab initio) IB language course (currently only Spanish and German are offered in the Academy).
• Take classes that emphasize and teach critical thinking, writing skills, and research skills

Admission Guidelines

• 3.20 GPA (on a 4-point equivalent scale)
• Complete the following classes by the end of grade 10:
  • 2 credits of English
  • 2 credits of Science (Physical and Life/Biology)
  • 2 credits of Spanish for entry into IB Spanish Course (no prerequisite language for entry into German Course)
  • Completion of Math classes including the equivalent of Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II.
  • Complete 1, and preferably 2, Social Studies credits
• Pass all parts of the OGT
• No serious discipline problems (e.g., no expulsions or 5+ day out-of-school suspensions)
• Good attendance
• Two positive teacher recommendations
• Good writing skills, the ability to think and analyze, and computer skills

Students may have an opportunity to meet with the Admissions Committee to make the case for admission, if the above guidelines are not met.

• These items are not requirements for admission, but may be required for graduation from your home school and are not offered at the academy:
  • Phys. Ed. and Health requirements
  • Other home school district graduation requirements that are outside the areas of English, Math, Science, and Social Studies, such as elective requirements.

Foreign Language – Spanish and German foreign language studies are offered at this time. Students with a French or other language background will have the opportunity to start German at the beginner level. Language offerings are reviewed annually based on strength of interest and availability of instructors.

This is a list of guidelines for predicting the likelihood of student success and not a list of absolute requirements. However, the further a student is from meeting these guidelines, the more difficult it will be for the student to be successful and it is less likely the student would be initially accepted to the academy.

Diploma Program Application Process

We will begin our first round of applications reviews in mid-March, but may continue to receive applications as long as space permits.

The following materials are to be submitted for consideration of admittance:

1. Student Information Form
2. A signed Letter of Understanding which outlines key program expectations
3. An essay demonstrating the student’s writing ability
4. A Home School Information Form to be first signed by a parent, then submitted to your guidance office for completion*
5. 2 letters of recommendation* from members of your high school faculty. One letter from a teacher of English, Foreign Language, Social Studies, or the Arts and the second from a teacher of Math or Science* – This item to be returned to the academy directly by the faculty or staff member completing it.

Applications are now being accepted from students currently in grade 10 to begin in the fall of 2010 as juniors. The beginning of grade 11 is the only entry point for the IB Diploma program.

Information and application packets can be obtained from your guidance counselors or contact:

Chad Lemon, Coordinator
Phone: 330-345-4000 ext. 3224
Email: chad.lemon@tricountyesc.org
741 Winkler Dr., Wooster OH 44691

Madalyn Bauer, Head-of-School
Phone: 330-345-4000 ext. 3003
Email: madalyn.bauer@tricountyesc.org
515 Oldman Rd., Wooster OH 44691

Visit the International Baccalaureate website: www.ibo.org

Frequently Asked Questions

For responses to common questions about the Tri-County International Academy, visit the Frequently Asked Questions guide.