Uptown International School: Why is IB Different?

Choosing the perfect educational system and school for your kids is a crucial decision one must take along the parenting journey. Uptown International School is sharing expert insight into the prestigious IB system, that is sought after by the world's top universities today. The school offers IB throughout all years of education, starting from the primary years, all the way to high school. UIS has been an IB Primary Years Program (PYP) Candidate School since January 2020 and will complete its authorization during the 2021-22 school year. The school uses US Common Core Standards as guideposts for individual student growth in its curriculum.

Inquiry-based, student-centered learning

Teaching and learning is built around student discovery, natural curiosity, and engagement. Students create their own questions and conduct their own research and discovery, guided by their teacher. This is in contrast to most systems where teachers and books are the center of learning and students passively accept knowledge and simply repeat it without developing skills such as research, communication, writing, synthesizing, and analysis.

Differentiated learning allows us to address all learners at their level

• We differentiate student learning, meaning that students are not treated as a group, but instead have their specific learning needs addressed. Not every child is on the same reading or math level, for example, in every grade, so we ensure that every child receives the aproppriate level of challenge to guarantee continual learning.
• Through differentiated instruction we are able to address many cases of mild learning needs

Authentic and continual assessment of learning, not memorized tests and quizzes

Teachers continually gather evidence of student learning and achievement in order to give a better, more accurate understanding of student knowledge and skills. Traditional tests and quizzes only assess a student’s ability to memorize and communicate specific information in stressful conditions.

Rational Homework Policy

Primary students rarely have homework other than reading or being read to by their parents. Any homework should be about gathering data or making observations. There are no worksheets or workbooks. Children should rest, play, and be part of the family to help ensure proper social, emotional, and psychological well-being.

Students who graduate from UIS at the end of Grade 12 will have IB and American Diplomas, a double qualification for university entrance

• The IB Diploma is the most prestigious qualification for university entrance in the world
• UIS students will also earn an American Diploma through the completion of their courses in Grades 9 to 12, giving them another guarantee for university admissions