Page receives IB status
Guilford County Schools announced today that Page High School has attained International Baccalaureate status. The program is similar to Advanced Placement in that it allows high schools students to take high level courses that could qualify them for college credit. However, IB students must also write an essay and be involved in extracurricular activities. An IB diploma is the end result.
GCS has been offering the IB curriculum since 1996. Grimsley, High Point Central and Smith high schools also have the program. IB prep programs are offered at Falkener Elementary and tentatively at Northwood Elementary, Ferndale Middle and Hairston Middle.
I am working on a fuller story about the IB program, but wanted to give you this nugget: May 2007 performance at the three high schools.
Grimsley had 34 IB diploma-eligible seniors at that time and by the end of the year, 27 had earned one. Also, 424 IB exams were taken and 327 earned a score of 4 or higher, which is needed to qualify the student for college credit.
At High Point Central, 9 opf 34 eligible students earned IB diplomas; 143 of 221 exams earned scores of 4 or higher.
At Smith (the most recent school to get IB other than Page), 0 of 12 eligible students earned an IB diploma; 19 of 79 exams earned scores of 4 or higher.