About Our School

General Information

Why IB?

The International Baccalaureate program fulfills the requirements outlined by the state of Florida for a high school diploma; however, it goes far beyond the traditional curriculum. The IB stands strong, providing the 21st century student with the intellectual rigor and high academic standards necessary for success at the highest collegiate levels while promoting ideas of global understanding and responsible citizenship. The IB Diploma Programme's challenging pre-university curriculum strives to do more than any other curricula. The IB educates the whole student, focusing on developing the capacity for critical thinking, nurturing inquiry and love of learning, and building research and problem-solving skills. The IB experience also develops essential skills for communication and collaboration which are vital for success in collegiate and corporate environments.

The International Baccalaureate is recognized by universities in more than 140 countries. Haines City IB students have enrolled at some of the most prestigious universities and rigorous academic programs in the United States and around the world. All the Florida universities recognize the IB diploma and offer college credit for IB coursework. Many IB Diploma recipients begin college as sophomores, with 30 or more hours of college credit accumulated from their IB courses taken in high school.

For more information about the Benefits of IB visit https://www.ibo.org/benefits/

School Community

Haines City High School is located in Central Florida in Polk County, the 7th Largest district in Florida and among the 30 largest districts in the U.S. Haines City High School (HCHS) has a student body of approximately 3,000 students and is home to many CTE (Career Technical Education) programs/academies such as Children’s Educational Studies, Media Production, Environmental Agricultural and Technology, JROTC, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. HCHS is also recognized as a Gold PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support) school, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) school, and offers courses in Advanced Placement, Dual Enrolment, Cambridge AICE, and is the home to the International Baccalaureate World School.

Mission, Vision, & Beliefs

The Haines City IB World School Diploma Program (HCIB) is a community of faculty, students, and staff engaged in the exchange of ideas contributing to intellectual growth and development. Essential to the mission of the academic community is a shared commitment to scholarly values, intellectual integrity, and respect for the ideas and work of others.

The Mission of Haines City High School is to provide a high-quality education by forging strong communal relationships, achieving academic proficiency, and reinforcing positive behavior. Through these provisions, Haines City High School creates Hornet Nation, which is a sense of pride; a feeling of comfort and confidence; a common ground; and a connection felt between students, faculty, parents, and community members.

The Haines City IB International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme offers a rich academic program of study aligned with our school’s mission statement as well as the mission statement of the International Baccalaureate Organization. The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

IB Learner Profile - The IB learner profile represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national, and global communities.