What is American Baccalaureate?

American Baccalaureate (AB) is a high school diploma program that aims to provide a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum. It's not as widely known or established as the International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) programs. Unlike those, there isn't a single, globally recognized American Baccalaureate organization. Instead, the term "American Baccalaureate" is sometimes used by individual schools or small networks of schools to describe their own specific, demanding curriculum.

Therefore, the specifics of what constitutes an "American Baccalaureate" program can vary considerably depending on the school offering it. Generally, it implies a curriculum that:

* Emphasizes college readiness: This often includes a demanding course load in core subjects like math, science, English, and social studies.

* May incorporate elements of AP or IB: Some schools might incorporate AP or IB courses into their American Baccalaureate program.

* Focuses on critical thinking and research skills: The curriculum likely emphasizes higher-order thinking skills and in-depth research projects.

* Might include a capstone project or senior thesis: Similar to IB programs, some American Baccalaureate programs culminate in a major research project or thesis.

Because of the lack of standardization, prospective students and parents should carefully investigate the specific curriculum and requirements of any school advertising an "American Baccalaureate" diploma to understand exactly what it entails. Don't assume it holds universal recognition or equivalence to IB or AP.