The International Baccalaureate program (IB) was first designed in 1967 to enable international schools to meet the special needs of their frequently mobile student population. Since then, IB has gained the recognition of the ministries of education in more than forty countries. Since the program's inception in 1967, tens of thousands of candidates representing over 125 different nationalities have taken the examinations. Many were full diploma candidates. IB students have been admitted to over five hundred universities, colleges, or other institutions of higher education in many different countries of the world.

The first California high school entered the IB program in June 1982. John W. North High School was authorized to participate in IB in June 1987. Approximately 479 American high schools are now part of the International Baccalaureate, 65 of which are located in California.

IB HISTORY IN BRIEF

1962 Geneva International School initiates IB planning

1970 First full IB examinations are taken

1976 Many universities in 35 countries recognize IB

1977 70 public and private secondary schools in 29
countries participate

1981 Over 150 schools in 35 countries participate

1982 Vista High School becomes the first public school
in California to participate

1987 John W. North High School becomes the nineteenth
California high school admitted to the program