Diploma
Dual Diploma Benefits
We offer the French, IB, and US programs:
The students at the Lycée International de Houston meet all Texas high school curricular requirements and are awarded the Texas High School Diploma at the end of 12th grade.
At the Lycée International de Houston the final years of study (11th and 12th grade) at are devoted to preparing students for the French Baccalaureate examination or the International Baccalaureate Diploma track (IBDP). No matter if students choose the IB or the French Bac, they will find themselves in a challenging and highly rewarding program that will make them stand out from the crowd.
Ready for Life
Our strong academic requirements are matched intermittently with the supportive, one-on-one teacher relationships that our students need to succeed in both in life and in their rigorous end-of-school French or IBDP Baccalaureate examinations.
Curriculum
To receive a High School Diploma from the State of Texas (Harris County), within the context of the French education system, the Lycée International de Houston students must obtain a minimum of 22 credits. Seventeen of these credits must be in the subjects specified below. The additional minimum of five elective units may come from offerings in any curricular area. Our students generally exceed these requirements.
American High School Diploma Requirements:
– 6 credits in Mathematics and Science*
– 4 credits English
– 2 credits French
– 3 credits in Social Studies (1 credit in U.S. History)*
– 2 credits in a 3rd language
– 1 credit in Physical Education
*Classes may be taught in English or French
The American high school diploma is awarded to all students who have met this requirement.
High School Credits
1 credit in high school equals 120 hours of classwork, or 160 45-minute periods.
The French Baccalaureate is widely considered to be the international gold standard in measuring depth and breadth of knowledge, critical thinking, and overall academic achievement. The French baccalaureate is an extended exam period taking place at the end of 11th and 12th grades. The French baccalaureate comprises 17 to 24 hours of essay exams and two to four oral exams, requiring students to summon not just “what they know” but to test their disputant, persuasive, and organizational skills.
In the 11th grade, students choose among three general areas in which they will be tested: Language and Literature, Economics and Social Science, or Mathematics and Sciences. Students still have the option to pursue subject matters outside of these concentrated tracks, including music and fine arts.
Philosophy, French literature, and English literature courses are required across all areas. The ability to craft an argument, delve into abstraction, and hone critical thinking skills remain a cornerstone of the Lycée International de Houston experience.
In addition to the traditional French Baccalaureate, the Lycée International de Houston offers two other courses of study. All three are considered by the French Ministry of National Education to be equally rigorous.
Common core for the French Baccalaureate
Grade 11 | Grade 12 | |
French | 5h | – |
Philosophy | – | 4h |
History/Geography | 3h | 3h |
Civics | 0.5h | 0.5h |
English (LVI) and Foreign Language (LVII) | 4h | 4h |
PE | 2h | 2h |
Core Experimental Sciences | 2h | 2h |
The Franco-American Baccalaureate (BFA)
Created by the French Ministry of Education in partnership with U.S. College Board, the BFA adds American Advanced Placement exams to French baccalaureate exams. Depending on their area of concentration, students will take courses and exams in AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP Micro- and Macro-economics, AP European History, or AP Biology.
Starting in 2021, the French Baccalaureate will combine ongoing assessments and final examinations.
- Ongoing assessments (“contrôle continu”) :
During 11th and 12th grade, students take different exams based on nationally designed exercises, focused on History and Geography, Foreign languages A and B, Science culture, PE and 1 specialty subject they have chosen. These ongoing assessments contribute for 30% of the final grade.
Throughout the two years, students also take different tests given by their teachers for each mandatory subject. These assessments (“livret scolaire”) contribute for 10% of the final grade.
- Final examinations (nationally designed written test) :
At the end of 11th grade, students take a French language and literature final exam in June, as the first part of the Baccalaureate. They are tested on their written skills and on an oral presentation of a text.
At the end of 12th grade, students take 3 written exams (Philosophy and two specialty subjects they have chosen and studied during 11 and 12th grade) and one oral exam about a personal project linked to a specialty subject. These exams contribute for 60% of the final grade.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme is one of the highest-rated academic programs in the world and prepares students for success in college/university. At the Lycée International de Houston in Houston, Texas, the program challenges students to be knowledgeable, balanced, and open-minded global citizens who are able to cope with an ever-changing world.
The IBDP Education is a holistic approach of education based in 10 essential qualities that each student develops over a core curriculum with a significant content https://www.ibo.org/contentassets/fd82f70643ef4086b7d3f292cc214962/learner-profile-en.pdf. This education philosophy is based on a renewed approach of teaching and learning.
An IBDP education focuses on learners and works within global contexts by offering more understanding of languages and cultures.
It is a unique program, internationally-mindedness, constantly sharpened by research, managed by an independent organization founded in 1968 in Switzerland, and widely recognized.
IBDP students’ study six courses, typically three at an advanced level and three at a standard level. They choose classes from five subject areas, ensuring a breadth of experience in languages, social studies, the experimental sciences, and mathematics. The sixth subject may be an arts class, or the student may choose another class from other subject groups.
In addition, the program has three core requirements that are included to broaden students’ educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and understanding.
The Extended Essay requires students to engage in independent research through in-depth study of a question relating to one of the subjects they are studying.
Theory of Knowledge is a course designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language, and reason) and different areas of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical, and historical).
Creativity, Activity, Service requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom.
Students take written examinations at the end of the program, which are graded by external IB examiners. They also complete assessment tasks in school, which are either initially evaluated by teachers and then confirmed by external moderators or sent directly to external examiners.
IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to improve the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students by delivering challenging, high quality programmes of international education that share a powerful vision.
