Application Information

Application Process – rising 9th & 10th grade students

• If Washington-Liberty is your neighborhood school, you do not need to submit a W-L Pre-IB application. All 9th and 10th graders at Washington-Liberty are considered W-L Pre-IB students.
• Students outside the W-L neighborhood boundary zone interested in participating in the W-L Pre-IB Program must electronically submit a school options application components.  The deadline is generally mid-January.  Please click on this link for the specific deadline this year.   You will need to create a family profile in order to start process.  Assistance with this process is available through the APS Welcome Center (703-228-8000).
• Please see below for a list of necessary pre-requisites, information on the selection process, and expectations for course of studies for all W-L pre-IB students at Washington-Liberty. Students and families who are interested in accessing the W-L Pre-IB and full IB Diploma Programme are encouraged to attend the APS High School Information Session and the WL IB Information Session (See APS School Options link below).

Click image above for link to presentation slides 12/4/2024

GENERAL SCHOOL OPTIONS INFORMATION

• Link to APS School Options and Transfers page

PRE- IB APPLICATION COMPONENTS:All components must be received by the deadline identified on the APS School Options webpage.

1. APS School Options Application Process – In order to complete the school options application, families will need to create an account. For assistance on creating an account, visit the APS School Options website
2. Link for APS School Options Application (through School Mint portal)
3. Cumulative transcript
   • Required for any student who attended school outside APS during any portion of 7th to the current grade.
   • Current 8th graders: Must include 7th grade end-of-year (EOY) grades and 1st quarter grades for 8th grade
   • Current 9th graders: Must include 7th & 8th grade EOY grades and 1st quarter grades for 9th grade
   • Current 10th graders: Must include 7th, 8th, 9th grade EOY grades and 1st quarter  grades for 10th grade
4. Short essay to be completed by student:
   • PROMPT: “What I think it means to be an International Baccalaureate student.”
   • 250 words or less
5. Signature acknowledgement page:  student and parent

APS Policy and PIP regarding Options and Transfers

Policy J-5.3.31 Options and Transfers

Policy Implementation Procedure J-5.3.31 PIP-1 – Options and Transfers-Elementary and Secondary

Participation requirements for the WL IB Diploma Programme are delineated below.  Requirements  include:

• 9th & 10th grades:
  • enrollment in intensified classes for all core subjects (English, math, science, and social studies)
  • continued enrollment in world language offered in the WL IB Diploma Programme (Arabic, Chinese/Mandarin, French, Latin, or Spanish)
  • AP US Government course – 10th grade
• 11th & 12th grades:
  • enrollment in courses required to meet IB Diploma Programme requirements (six IB subject courses in both 11th & 12th grades) in addition to IB core requirements (EE, TOK, and CAS); or
  • Students not fulfilling minimum participation will return to their home school.

APS High School Information Night, High School Information Sessions, and IB Information Night

APS sponsors High School Information Night at the beginning of the school options/transfer process (late October/early November).  This session includes a general overview of the high school options in APS as well as the process for transferring.  The general session is followed individual information sessions hosted at a later date at each school.  All Arlington high schools schedule information sessions to provide students and parents an opportunity to learn more about the schools, meet the school leaders, and get a general sense of the personalities of each of the schools. All parents/guardians of rising high school students are encouraged to attend one of these session (no RSVP required).

APS High School Information Sessions

• High School Information Session: The link to watch the event will be posted on the main high school options webpage .
• Washington-Liberty Information Session:  General WL information and focus on the IB Diploma Programme.
  • Wednesday, December 4 at 7pm
  • W-L Auditorium
  • 
  • Click on picture for link for presentation slides
• High School Information Sessions – click here for all school specific information session dates*

*Information session dates subject to change

Lottery applicants must meet the following prerequisites to be eligible for the W-L Pre-IB program:

• Strong grades (A’s and B’s) in all subjects
  • End of year grades– 7th grade forward (& high school if applicable)
  • 1st quarter grades – current year
• World Language –
  •  Must be one of these world languages offered in the WL IB Diploma Programme:
    • Arabic,
    • Chinese/Mandarin,
    • French,
    • Latin, or
    • Spanish
  • Grade 8 – Level 2 (Level 1 accepted, though student will need to accelerate learning to level 4 by 10th grade)
  • Grade 9 – Level 3
  • Grade 10 – Level 4
• Mathematics
  • Grade 8 – Algebra I or greater
  • Grade 9 – Geometry or greater
  • Grade 10 – Algebra II or greater
• Short answer/essay question

Selection Process

An admissions committee scores each student’s application using a RUBRIC which incorporates the above- mentioned prerequisites and the student’s short-answer question.  Applicants are then ranked according to their score (out of a possible 18 points).  Any student that scores an 13 or higher, is deemed qualified for acceptance.  Students with a score of 13 or higher will then be entered in the double blind lottery.  All eligible students are equal in this process.

NOTE:  If the applicant is a rising 9th grader, the admissions committee will review final grades for 7th grade and first quarter grades for 8th grade.  Rising 10th grade applicants will have their final grades reviewed for 7th & 8th grades, plus first quarter grades for 9th grade.

The School Board caps the number of program transfers (W-L Pre-IB and IB Diploma Programme) each year.  Number of transfers for the each school year is announced by School Board in November.  This number is based on November enrollment projections. If the number of qualified transfers exceeds the number of available transfer positions, a random, double-blind lottery will be conducted by the Superintendent’s Office to determine which students are selected.  The remaining students will be placed on a waiting list of alternates to be considered in the event that a student who is offered a position in the program chooses not to accept.  As space becomes available, admission will be offered to students on the waiting list in the order established by the lottery. When a student on the waiting list is eligible to fill a vacancy in an existing class, the family will be contacted and invited to enroll their child. Individual applicants will be notified in writing in February.

W-L Pre-IB Course of Studies

To participate in W-L’s Pre-IB Program and remain eligible as WL IB transfers, students must be enrolled in intensified core academic courses in grades 9 and 10 and continue studying the world language begun in 7th grade.

Grade 9

• English: Intensified English 9
• World Language: Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic or Latin III
• History: Intensified World History or AP World History
• Science: Intensified Biology
• Math: Intensified Geometry or Intensified Algebra II
• P.E./Health I
• Elective
• Generals Period

Grade 10

• English: Intensified English 10
• World Language: Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic or Latin IV
• History: AP Government for Sophomores
• Science: Intensified Chemistry
• Math: Intensified Algebra II
• P.E./Health II
• Elective
• Generals Period

W-L IB Diploma Programme (DP) Information

• The IB DP takes place in 11th & 12th grades
• In February of 10th grade, students choose the IB classes that they will be studying in 11th & 12th

Process for the all W-L rising 11th graders (takes place in January & February of 10th grade)

• 10 graders
• January & February of 10th grade
• Declaration of Interest form- due January 30
• Complete Canvas course outlining IB Diploma Program and all associated assignments – due February 15
• Communicate with IB coordinator
• After completing Canvas course, students decide if pursuing the full IB DP is the best route for them

NOTE:  Students attending W-L on an IB transfer must meet all IB programme requirements to remain at W-L

Prerequisites for the IB Diploma Programme (10th grade)

• Algebra II (preferably intensified) or greater in 10th grade.  Less than Intensified Algebra II will greatly limit potential IB Diploma Programme scheduling options.
• Arabic, Chinese/Mandarin, French, Latin, or Spanish at level 4 in 10th grade
• A’s and B’s in all subjects (7th-10th grade)

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program – Course of Studies

Grade 11

• Group 1: IB English Literature, IB English Language & Literature, IB Spanish Language & Literature for Fluent Speakers
• Group 2: IB Arabic, IB Chinese/Mandarin, IB French, IB Latin,  or IB Spanish
• Group 3: IB History of the Americas or other group 3 elective
• Group 4: IB Physics; IB Chemistry; IB Biology; IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science; IB Computer Science; or IB Environmental Systems (block)
• Group 5: IB Math: Applications & Interpretation; or IB Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches (Precalculus)
• Group 6*: IB Film, IB Visual Arts, IB Theater Arts or IB Music
• IB Core/TOK 1

Grade 12

• Group 1: IB English Literature, IB English Language & Literature, IB Spanish Language & Literature for Fluent Speakers
• Group 2: IB Arabic, IB Chinese/Mandarin, IB French, IB Latin,  or IB Spanish
• Group 3: IB Topics in 20th Century World History or group 3 elective
• Group 4: IB Physics; IB Chemistry; IB Biology; IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science; IB Computer Science; or IB Environmental Systems (block)
• Group 5: IB Math: Applications & Interpretation; or IB Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches (Calculus)
• Group 6*: IB Film, IB Visual Arts, IB Theater Arts or IB Music
• IB Core/TOK 2

*A student’s 6th IB course can be chosen from Group 6: The Arts or can include an additional IB course chosen from groups 2-4. FURTHER NOTES:

• Full IB diploma students must take one subject from each subject group. 
• A student may earn a bilingual diploma by taking two group 1 subjects. 
• Students may take up to two exams at the end of their junior year.
• Specific schedules in grades 11 and 12 will reflect each student’s personal options.

Disclaimer: Washington-Liberty Pre-IB is not affiliated or endorsed by the International Baccalaureate Organization.