Welcome to Advanced Programs

Welcome to the Advanced Programs at Hellgate High School. We are proud to offer both Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate course options to all of our Knights.

You will find a variety of sources here to peruse, but please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, Jessica Buboltz, via email (jlbuboltz@mcpsmt.org) or call 406-728-2400 x6078 with any questions.

These informational Slides were presented to all freshmen and sophomores in preparation for spring registration. I will present similar information on the parent nights scheduled for January (for rising 10th-12th graders) and February (for rising 9th graders).

Does my college accept AP or IB?

You are applying to colleges and want to know if they will accept your AP or IB courses. Follow the links or steps below.

Option #1

Follow the link to the AP Credit Policy Search and search the database for the College or Course that you are curious about.

AP CREDIT POLICY SEARCH

Option #2

1. Go to the university or college website that you are curious about and search for the term "AP IB."

2. The policies of the school in terms of acceptance of AP or IB courses should be an option to choose.

Examples:

University of Montana Montana State University Carroll College

University of Idaho Washington State Gonzaga

About Advanced Placement

At Hellgate, we offer Advanced Placement (AP) options at all grade levels.

In 2024, Hellgate was one of the eight schools in Montana honored with the AP Honor Roll, achieving a level of Bronze. The award is based on the number of students who take an AP exam during their time at Hellgate as well as the number of students who earn a passing score of at least three.

To take an AP class, students need to be sure that they have completed any prerequisites and then register for the class. These are honors-level courses that may result in college credit if the student registers for the AP exam and earns a passing score.

AP exams are not required coursework and it is important to note that college credit in exchange for an AP exam varies depending on the institution. An easy way to see if your college of interest takes AP credit and the scores that are necessary, simply look up the name of the college along with the words "AP credit" and you should be routed to a page containing that information.

Here's a list of AP courses currently available at Hellgate:

ENGLISH: AP Seminar

MATH: AP Statistics, AP Calculus

SCIENCE: AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Environmental Science, AP Biology

WORLD LANGUAGE: AP Spanish

ART: 2D, 3D

SOCIAL STUDIES: Human Geography, World History

More information about AP courses can be found here and you can access Hellgate's AP (and IB!) course listings with prerequisites here. Click on the circle at the bottom of the page that says "AP & IB".

About International Baccalaureate

Juniors and Seniors at Hellgate have the opportunity to take International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. Like AP, these offer students a challenge and potential college credit. All IB courses function out of the guiding principles outlined in the IB Learner Profile.

By engaging in IB courses, students are given the chance to be:

• Inquirers •Thinkers •Principled •Caring •Balanced

• Knowledgeable •Communicators •Open-Minded •Risk-Takers •Reflective

IB Courses
IB Diploma & Requirements

IB Courses

Currently, we offer the following options:

IB Language and Literature HL (Higher Level) IB History HL

IB Spanish SL (Standard Level) or HL IB French SL

IB Math Applications and Interpretation IB Music SL

IB Philosophy SL IB Economics SL

Theory of Knowledge IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science SL or HL

Students are welcome to enroll in any of the courses listed above, keeping in mind that there are prerequisites in some cases. More information about this can be found here.

IB Diploma & Requirements

The IB Diploma is internationally recognized by universities and organizations as a rigorous and valuable pathway out of high school. At many colleges, including UM and MSU, students who successfully complete the IB Diploma are admitted with 30 credits, placing them at sophomore standing.

A simple search of your college of interest + IB credit will take you to a page on their website that outlines credit given for both individual IB courses and the Diploma.

This document offers a snapshot of acceptance rates at top-rated colleges for IB students.

Here is a guide that is specifically created for parents of students attempting the Diploma. (Guide)

IB DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS

To complete the IB Diploma Programme students must:

Complete course and exam requirements in six IB subjects
Complete Theory of Knowledge 1 Semester 2 of their Junior Year
Complete Theory of Knowledge 2 Semester 1 of their Senior Year
Complete the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) Project
Complete the Extended Essay (EE) on a topic of their choice and guided by a staff member

Exam Requirements

IB Diploma students will complete a combination of six courses and exams at either the Standard Level (SL) or the Higher Level (HL). A minimum of three exams must be taken at the Higher Level, with a maximum of four tests taken at the Higher Level. Students may sit for two tests at the Standard Level during their Junior Year to alleviate some of the testing that is required.

Extended Essay

The Extended Essay is a 3,000 to 4,000 word essay on a topic of the student’s choice. The essay requires students to engage in original research similar to the experience that students will have in higher education. The process is guided by a mentor teacher here at Hellgate.

A full description of the Extended Essay can be found here.

CAS Project

The CAS project is an opportunity for students to help their community, and themselves, explore something that they are passionate about. The project requires reflections that will need to be submitted that will include evidence of the project.

A full description of the CAS Project can be found here.

Theory of Knowledge

Diploma Students will need to complete the full Theory of Knowledge course and complete the Essay on a prescribed title and the Exhibition at the end of the course.

A full description of the Theory of Knowledge can be found here.

Additional Information on AP & IB Education

Logo Image

Logo Title

In This Section

Navigation