Welcome to WAIS

Welcome! We are happy you are here and the Westchester Academy for International Studies PTA (WAIS PTA) would like to help make your transition into our school as smooth and easy as possible!  Westchester is a unique choice school within Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) that offers students the opportunity to build a solid academic foundation through connecting their classroom experiences with the real world, fostering an inquiring mindset and equipping them with future-ready skills. By choosing Westchester for your student, you have chosen IB - The International Baccalaureate (IB) - a global leader in international education.

Many students and families begin their education at Westchester without a full understanding of the IB Programme.  As the only IB school in SBISD, WAIS offers a unique opportunity to the students who chose to attend.  The IB program consists of the Middle Years Programme (MYP) which includes grades 6-10, and then the Diploma Programme (DP) or the Career-Related Programme (CP) for 11th and 12th graders.  

The assignments and projects given in the MYP are intended to prepare the students for the required rigor to complete either the DP or CP as upperclassmen.  IB programmes tend to be writing heavy and focus on honing skills in problem solving, communication, global awareness, and ethical decision making. 

The DP and CP IB courses are two-year courses culminating in a series of exams that have the potential to earn college credit. IB courses can be High Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL) which refer to the level of difficulty in the course. 

• DP candidates are required to take 6 IB classes, 3-4 of which must be HL. Candidates must also complete a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, a 1600 word Extended Essay (EE), and 150 Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) hours. 
  
  
• CP candidates often take a career path track at Guthrie or the business track program at WAIS. Candidates must complete at least two IB courses, a Reflective Project, a Service Learning Portfolio with a minimum of 50 hours, and a Language Development Portfolio that documents at least 50 hours of language learning. 

Your feedback and suggestions are welcomed as we continue to develop this page as a resource for new and existing families to better understand the high quality of education your student will be receiving at Westchester!

1. What does it mean to be an IB student?
2. What is the Middle Years Programme (MYP)? 6th - 10th graders are a part of the MYP.
   • Are all 6th - 10th graders at WAIS in the MYP? Yes
3. What is the Diploma Programme (DP)? 11th and 12th graders in the DP are considered DP Candidates.
4. What is the Career-related Programme (CP)? 11th and 12th graders in the CP are called CP Candidates.
   • Can 11th and 12th graders join both DP and CP? No. Students must choose between DP or CP during their 10th grade year in the spring when they are selecting their classes for 11th grade.

WAIS Acronyms and Terms