# Baku International School

Baku International School (BIS) is an international school located in Baku, Azerbaijan, which was established by the Quality Schools International (QSI) group in 1994. The school provides preschool education, elementary education, middle school, and secondary education. The school programs are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) in the United States.
As an international school, there are students from the United States, Azerbaijan, India, Poland, Greece, South Korea, Turkey, Germany, Japan, Colombia, Spain, Russia, Australia, Trinidad, and Romania.
For after-school activities, there are Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and ballet for preschool and elementary students. For middle and high school students, there are sports activities such as cross-country running, soccer, basketball, and track and field.

## Study and programs

Elementary students learn Literacy, Math, Cultural Studies, Science, World Languages, Music, Technology, Art, and PE (physical education). Middle and Secondary Students get to choose electives which include PE/Wellness, Technology, Music (Band/Orchestra/Choir/Guitar), Drama or Art. Students that cannot go yet into the appropriate age program go to IE (Intensive English) classes for Literacy and World Languages. They move up when they can go to the appropriate program for their age. The school has 7 Success Orientations to follow:
* Responsibility
* Kindness & Politeness
* Trustworthiness
* Aesthetic Appreciation
* Concern for Others
* Group Interaction
* Independent Endavour
The school is funded partially by the U.S. Department of State. The school is accredited by CEESA and MSA.

## Curriculum

The QSI education system differs from the traditional American system in several aspects. The naming of the key stages in the QSI curricular system diverges from typical naming. Additionally, the different stages cover different age groups. The table below represents all the changes:
QSI Education System :
| Traditional American Schools | QSI Schools | Age Group |
| Preschool | Pre-K | 3-4 |
| Preschool | Kindergarten | 4-5 |
| Elementary School | Kindergarten | 5-6 |
| Elementary School | Lower Elementary | 6-9 |
| Elementary School | Upper Elementary | 9-11 |
| Middle School | Upper Elementary | 11-12 |
| Middle School | Middle School | 12-14 |
| High School | Secondary | 14-18 |
A variety of AP Courses is offered, ranging from AP World History to AP Chemistry. Intensive English class is compulsory for ESL (English as a Second Language) students who have struggle effectively communicating in English. A university counselor is also offered to the senior class. Study Hall is offered to high school students with tight schedules and/or numerous AP subjects.
The QSI grading system also differs from that of traditional American schools:
QSI Grading System :
| A level | B Level | N (Not Yet) | W (Withdrawal) | P (In Progress) | H (On Hold) | D (Deficient Effort me) |
| Student illustrated knowledge beyond mastery, went beyond what was expected of him/her and has completed all the TSW's | Student illustrated mastery in the unit and completed all the TSW's | Student failed to show mastery in the unit and has not completed all the TSW's | Student withdrew from the particular unit or the subject as a whole | Student is in progress of mastering the unit and has not completed the unit at that point in time. | Student is placed on hold and starts attending unit recovery | Student showed lack of effort, therefore, receives a D for a particular unit |
TSW ("The Student Will") are a set of guiding points that illustrate what the student should learn in the unit/subject. A TSW sheet is created by a group of teachers with expertise in that particular subject. Every unit in every subject has a TSW sheet.
All QSI schools are based on the course credit system. Each whole-year subject contains 10 units. Each semester-long subject contains 5 units. A single completed unit with a grade of B or above will earn a student 1 credit. A pupil must earn 220 credits throughout his secondary (high school) years and complete all mandatory subjects such as Algebra I and Biology to earn a Standard Diploma. If a student wishes to receive an Academic Diploma, they must earn 240 credits and embark on additional English and Social Science classes. With a student wishes to receive an Academic Diploma with Honors, he/she must complete 2 AP subjects between Secondary 1 and Secondary 4 as well as meeting the requirements of both the Standard and Academic Diploma. The student must complete the subject's AP exam with a score of 3 or above. The mandatory courses for the 3 diplomas are as listed:
QSI Diploma Requirements :
| | English | Mathematics | Science | Social Science | Arts | Phys. Ed. and Health | Advanced Placement (Only for Academic With Honors) |
| Standard Diploma | Writing I and II Literature I and II | Algebra I and II Geometry | Physical Science Biology Physics or Chemistry | World Geography Modern World History | 2 of the 3: Drama (1 semester) Music Art | Fitness Health (5 credits) Phys. Ed. | Any 2 of the following: U.S. History World History Economics Biology Physics B Physics C Chemistry Calculus AB Literature |
| Academic Diploma | + Research Project American Literature British Literature or AP Literature | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | + U.S. History Economics (5 credits) World Government (5 credits) | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------- | Any 2 of the following: U.S. History World History Economics Biology Physics B Physics C Chemistry Calculus AB Literature |
| Academic Diploma With Honors | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------- | Any 2 of the following: U.S. History World History Economics Biology Physics B Physics C Chemistry Calculus AB Literature |