Overview of IBEST at TJHSST

What Is IBEST at TJHSST?

IBEST stands for Integrated Biology, English, and Statistics. It's not a club, a lab, or an elective. It's a freshman learning community—a trio of courses (Biology, English 9, and a Statistics-focused Math unit) taught with a common thread: helping you think, write, and analyze like a scientist.

Rather than separating STEM and humanities, IBEST intentionally weaves them together—because that’s how the real world works. Scientific research isn’t just about discovering something; it’s about asking the right questions, analyzing the data, and communicating the “why it matters” with clarity and purpose.

How Does IBEST Actually Work?

Students placed in IBEST are assigned to three interlinked classes:

• Biology 1 (Standard or Honors)

• English 9

• A statistical reasoning module (integrated with Biology)

• Design and Technology

These aren’t just scheduled back-to-back. The teachers collaborate across subjects to build themed units and projects. Here's how that plays out:

Example Project

• In Biology: You run an experiment on how temperature affects catalase activity in different conditions. You form a hypothesis, collect data, and identify variables.

• In Tech Ed (Engineering): You design or 3D-print simple lab equipment—maybe a custom water bath or reaction chamber—using measurement and modeling tools.

• Statistics: You graph your data, calculate mean, median, standard deviation, and conduct a basic regression or error analysis.

• In English: You write a full scientific research paper: complete with an abstract, methods, results, discussion, and bibliography—all structured using academic conventions and citations.

Outcome: You're learning science, evaluating societal implications, and developing your own position—just like real scientific communicators do.

Example Project: Statistical Analysis of a Real-Life Bio Experiment

• You design a simple lab—maybe analyzing how light affects plant growth.

• You collect data in Biology.

• You analyze trends using statistical methods—mean, standard deviation, error bars.

• You write a full report with scientific formatting (like what you'd do in a junior research lab).

It’s not just about the experiment—it’s about forming a hypothesis, controlling variables, backing it with math, and communicating the results.

Why IBEST Exists—and Why It Matters

TJ’s upperclassmen are expected to do real research—some publish, some compete, some even present at academic conferences. IBEST at TJHSST is the bridge between middle school science classes and that level of thinking.

IBEST Builds Core Skills TJ Cares About:

Skill	How IBEST Builds It
📚 Research Literacy	Teaches how to read, critique, and apply scientific texts
🧠 Critical Thinking	Encourages you to make connections across disciplines
✍️ Academic Writing	You’ll draft full-length science-style papers in 9th grade
📊 Data Analysis	Emphasizes charts, stats, and interpreting real data
🎙️ Scientific Communication	Teaches how to present your findings with clarity & context

How do I do IBEST?

No formal application is required. During 9th grade scheduling, students are assigned to IBEST based on a combination of factors:

• Class balance

• Course level requests (e.g., Honors Biology)

• Availability

How IBEST Prepares You for TJ's Famous Research Labs

By senior year, TJHSST students are eligible to join signature labs like:

• Biotechnology Lab

• Neuroscience

• Oceanography & Geophysical Systems

• Chemical Analysis

• Computer Systems

• Quantum Physics

IBEST students often hit the ground running because they’ve already:

• Written research-style papers

• Analyzed real data

• Practiced hypothesis formation

• Used scientific formatting (abstract, methods, results, discussion)

In other words—they’ve already learned the research mindset.

Final Thoughts

IBEST isn’t just “freshman English with a science twist.” It’s TJHSST’s quiet superpower—a training ground that transforms curious 9th graders into thoughtful, articulate, research-ready students.

If you’re headed to TJ and you’re serious about standing out in labs, science fairs, internships, and beyond—lean into IBEST. It’s where thinking like a scientist truly begins.