School Fit
Decide whether the IB Diploma Programme fits your student
Look past selectivity to the workload, the research essay and the daily trip.
Checked against Richard Montgomery IB's published admissions pages on November 5, 2026.
School fit
Is the IB Diploma Programme a fit?
- The program
- Richard Montgomery is the Central Region site for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, a criteria-based, four-year Center program. From 2027-28 MCPS offers the IB Diploma Programme at six high schools: Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Springbrook, Kennedy, Richard Montgomery, Watkins Mill and Seneca Valley.
- Core experiences
- MCPS lists these core IB experiences: earning the IB Diploma, annual interdisciplinary projects, presenting a research essay, earning college credit, the Seal of Biliteracy state recognition, competitions, extracurricular student organizations and field trips.
- Sample courses
- MCPS's sample course sequence starts in Grade 9 with Center Program IB English 9, Integrated Algebra 1 or higher, Center Program IB Biology, AP US History, a world language (Chinese, French or Spanish) and an elective. In Grades 11 and 12 students take Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay, 3 to 4 higher-level courses and 2 to 3 standard-level courses, with at least one course from each of Groups 1 to 5. MCPS says the sequence is subject to change as the programs are developed.
- Requirements
- In addition to MCPS graduation requirements, all students must complete the IB Diploma Programme requirements to earn the IB Diploma.
- History
- Richard Montgomery is home to the MCPS IB Magnet, which the school says was the first International Baccalaureate program in the county when it was established in 1987.
- Seats
- MCPS's preliminary projections list 60 out-of-area seats per year for a group of programs that includes IB. MCPS says these are preliminary and the number for a program may differ by school. A student who applies to a Center at their home high school does not use an out-of-area seat.
- Transportation
- MCPS says central stop transportation will be available for Center programs. Families get to the central stop themselves, and route details come in summer 2027. Activity bus information is expected in spring 2027.
- IB office
- The Richard Montgomery IB office phone number is (240) 740-6165.
- 01
Talk through the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and two years of higher-level courses with your student.
- 02
Ask the school's IB office what a typical week looks like.