Aurora Public Schools

Located at Hinkley and Gateway high schools, Aurora Hills and East middle schools, and Wheeling and Elkhart elementary schools, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes offer a rigorous academic framework with a worldwide orientation and focus on the entire student. IB provides students with a balanced education in languages, social studies, experimental sciences, mathematics and electives.

Gateway High School, East Middle School and Elkhart Elementary School became  fully authorized IB schools in the fall of 2012.

IB instruction is divided into three programmes:

• The Diploma Programme for high school juniors and seniors
• The Middle Years Programme for students in grades six through 10
• The Primary Years Programme for students in preschool through fifth grade

“There is such a big difference between the students who were in IB and those who were not. The IB kids are ready for what college expects.” --Former Hinkley IB student Aakah S.

Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end, the IBO works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

“Learning how to learn and how to evaluate information critically is as important as learning facts.” –2011 East Middle IB Coordinator Tonya Thompson

Application Process

All students at Aurora Hills and Wheeling benefit from some form of IB instruction. To learn more about the program, interested students should contact Aurora Hills at 303-341-7450 or Wheeling at 303-344-8670.

Students interested in IB at the high school level can contact Hinkley High School at 303-340-1500 or Gateway High School at 303-755-7160.

Watch the video below to learn about IB from an IB coordinator and IB student: