IB vs AP courses have been a timeless debate over time where even schools that neighbor each other have chosen their separate paths. With International Baccalaureate courses seemingly more valuable when students go international and Advanced Placement courses being considered significantly more valuable in the US, students have been leaning toward picking AP classes instead. 

In the Issaquah School District, Issaquah High School and Skyline High School are almost next door but Issaquah has an AP driven course selection while Skyline has an IB focused arrangement of courses. 

“You have to think creatively,” said Chris Wilder, the director of IB courses at Skyline High School, when describing the benefits of IB courses over AP courses he highlighted other points such as “it’s not one program that is best for all students”. 

IB courses come with their own benefits, but the value that AP courses also contain cant be disregarded with cheaper exams, easier content, and higher levels of acceptance within colleges in the US. As AP courses are the primary go to for most schools in the US, “Students who take AP courses and exams understand what is needed to succeed at the college level”, was the statement given by Issaquah High School. 

The common thought that since AP is so common IB would help differentiate students along with the harder course material is false, especially in the US, many colleges and universities would rather have students with high AP course scores than a student with equivalent IB course scores. IB courses seem to have a lack of reputation especially among high tier colleges in the US. 

However international students are benefiting from IB courses as many of the colleges and universities in other countries value IB courses instead of AP courses. Many European colleges instantly accept transfer students with IB diploma certifications. The course decision ultimately depends on which schools the students attend but there is pathway that would serve as a significant disadvantage.