ISS High School Diploma

Introduction

As an alternative to the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP), the ISS High School Diploma (HSD) programme is offered for Grade 9 to Grade 12 students. The ISS HSD is an option that will enable students to graduate after 12 years of study and apply for entry into Colleges, Polytechnics, Foundation Courses (and universities under certain conditions*).

The central ethos of the ISS High School Diploma (HSD) is that students will be given the opportunity to gain the skills required to pursue a career that they are passionate about, or have a strong interest in. The ISS HSD includes practical vocational experience through service learning projects, thereby enabling our students to realise their individual potential in a more personal, tangible and pronounced manner.

Student Suitability with the ISS HSD

The ISS HSD is chosen by students who would prefer:

• To focus on a more specific range of subjects, vocational courses and work experience
• A course that is more flexible and allows for more personal bespoke options
• A course that is more suited to their language and academic needs
• A course that provides a clear pathway to a specific vocation

Curriculum

The curriculum at ISS in Grades 9 and 10 follows the IB Middle Years Programme (IBMYP).  Students then choose to continue with the IBDP or the ISS HSD. The HSD curriculum in Grades 11 and 12 includes some IBDP courses to be followed along with custom-built courses developed from a range of global curricula.

Subjects pursued in the ISS HSD

English B students in this programme are also offered the opportunity to take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) course. 

ISS HSD Graduation Requirements

Students who choose the ISS HSD can take a combination of International Baccalaureate (IB) and ISS courses. Regardless of their subject choice, students are required to attain a minimum of 23 credits over their 4 year** journey in order to graduate – a student must also complete the Service as Action programme in Grades 9 and 10, and a Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) programme in Grades 11 and 12. Please refer to this link for details of the grading criteria.

** Credits accumulated from other educational institutions can be used to meet the minimum credit requirement

***This is the minimum credit required to earn an ISS High School Diploma; completing this does not guarantee admission into universities or colleges. Most universities will require 4 credits in English, Math, Science and Social Studies.

How are the examinations developed / administered in the ISS HSD?

Examinations are administered by both ISS International School and the International Baccalaureate (IB), depending on the combination of subjects selected by students.

Accreditation

With accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Council of International Schools (CIS), ISS is recognised to meet the examination criteria and standards required of universities* globally.

*Higher Education / Tertiary Pathways

HSD students can choose from a range of tertiary institutions that include community colleges, polytechnics, vocational institutions, and universities. Admission requirements for all tertiary institutions differ around the world, depending on selected courses of study.  However, Community Colleges and/or Universities in the USA will often accept students with a high school transcript and the HS Diploma (which includes some IB certificates), and students may be accepted directly into undergraduate programmes if they are able to show academic aptitude in an SAT or ACT test. Universities in Japan, Korea, Singapore may also accept the HSD with SAT test scores. Most universities in the UK, Canada and Australia will require students with the ISS HSD qualification to complete a one-year foundation programme and admission may not be possible for highly competitive universities. Please discuss future plans with our University Adviser, who will be able to personally guide and advise each student on their options and choices.

A comparison of the ISS HSD and the IBDP

Entry requirements: