Secondary

Students age 12–18 years old continue to learn and grow in the Bowman environment while they work to earn a high school diploma.

Bowman Secondary uses Montessori philosophy and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma programs. Students work collaboratively together in mixed-aged groupings: Grades 7–8, Grade 9–10, and Grades 11–12.

Working on- and off-campus gives Secondary students in Secondary the chance to learn in context, an important aspect of both IB and Montessori learning. Students in Grades 7–10 take advantage of off-campus learning through field trips around the Bay Area and beyond, including: Boston, Washington DC, Civil Rights Trail (Alabama and Georgia), The Dakotas, Vancouver BC, and England. In Grades 11–12, students have a hand in planning the trips, working with staff to determine locations and logistics for language immersion trips, subject-specific trips, and culminating in a fully student-planned trip.

Secondary Level Curriculum

IB Core

Students broaden educational experiences and apply their knowledge and skills in a progression of student-centered projects. The Community Project and Personal Project are important components of the Middle Years Program, challenging students to design and implement a community-centered project. In the Diploma Program, students take Theory of Knowledge, complete an Extended Essay, and explore their passions through Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS).

Literature and Language

Language Acquisition

In Language Acquisition, students in Secondary work towards proficiency in a target language. Starting with Spanish and Mandarin, students choose a language and practice it weekly, learning valuable speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Secondary students continue learning grammar and vocabulary and begin to learn in context: literature studies, conversational skills, and practical life applications. In Grade 11, students embark on a language immersion trip, learning to further their language acquisition skills.

Individuals and Societies

Science

Science courses in Secondary allow students to solve problems and get acquainted with research. All science course are laboratory-based, with frequent interdisciplinary correlations with mathematics, individuals and societies, literature and language, and the arts. Scientific studies include Introduction to Lab Science, Integrated Biology, The Building Blocks of Life (Integrated Chemistry and Physics), IB Biology, IB Chemistry, and IB Physics.

Mathematics

The mathematics curriculum in Secondary is integrated in nature, allowing students to get a breadth and depth of mathematics education across multiple topics. Students interpret and apply their knowledge to, making practical connections between math concepts and the world. The study of mathematics continues to be individualized. All mathematics courses are aligned with California and Common Core standards.

Design

The Arts

Life Skills

Building life skills is an extremely important part of the Secondary experience, as real-world skills that will help them develop into independent young adults. Through classes like Physical Education and Wellness, Introduction to Economics, American Government, Home Economics, and College and Career Readiness, information is presented through lessons, guest speakers, seminars, discussions, and experiences out of the classroom to prepare our students not just for the next stage but for life.

Graduation Requirements:

Bowman classes use the IB curriculum and are aligned with California state and Common Core standards. In Grades 9-12, classes are aligned with UC/CSU A-G Requirements and meet all California state high school graduation requirements.

Subject Area	Req.
Literature and Language	4 Years
Language Acquisition	4 Years
Individuals and Societies	4 Years
Sciences	4 Years
Mathematics	4 Years
The Arts	3 Years
Life Skills: Physical Education and Health	2 Years
Life Skills: Government and Economics	1 Year
Service Hours	100 Hours

Explore More About International Baccalaureate:

IB Learner Profile University Readiness from IB About IB Middle Years Program (MYP) About IB Diploma Pogram (DP)

Bowman School is a Candidate School for the IB Middle Years (MYP). This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy – a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Bowman School believes is important for our students.

Bowman School is a Candidate School for the Diploma Program (DP). This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Bowman School believes is important for our students.

*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programs: the Primary Years Program (PYP), the Middle Years Program (MYP), the Diploma Program, or the Career-related Program (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programs, visit www.ibo.org.