Fulton Schools To Expand International Baccalaureate Program

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Fulton County Schools Superintendent Robert Avossa on Tuesday announced the next step in increasing the system’s portfolio of educational options by expanding its International Baccalaureate program.

“Education is not one-size-fits-all,” he stated. “Our students are unique and excel in a variety of learning environments. We live in a world where you can customize just about anything, and parents want that same flexibility for their children’s education. We continue to offer a variety of opportunities for our families and we are proud to demonstrate this additional commitment to school choice by expanding the district’s IB program.”

School choice is the concept of allowing families to choose the best educational option for their children based on their interests and unique needs. For the past few years, Fulton County has used a variety of tools to expand options for families, such as magnet program expansions, targeted requests for charter proposals, increased Fulton Virtual Campus offerings, etc.

Five schools are taking steps toward implementing the International Baccalaureate program. Heards Ferry, High Point and Lake Forest elementary schools have been exploring IB’s Primary Years Programme (grades K-5) and conducting a feasibility study. They each are preparing a candidacy application for the Fulton County School Board to review this February, with action taken in March. The final candidacy application is due to the International Baccalaureate Organization in April, and if approved, the program would be offered no sooner than the 2017-2018 school year.

The International Baccalaureate’s Middle Years Programme (grades 6-10) and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (grades 11-12) are currently offered at Ridgeview Charter School and Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs, where the three elementary schools are located, making it a natural progression for them to consider the program.

Similarly, two high schools – Alpharetta High School and Centennial High School – are in the beginning stages of conducting a yearlong feasibility study for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

“This is the natural evolution in our charter system and will be a multi-year process,” Avossa added. “The main idea of the charter system is to empower local communities to meet the unique needs of their students. It will take time to determine how to best provide more curricular choices for our students.”

Last school year, the Fulton County School Board travelled to North Carolina to review the school choice options available to students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system.

“It was very impressive to see the diversity of options that are available to students,” said School Board President Linda Schultz. “More than 25 percent of their 160 schools offer at least one program devoted to specialized themes and focuses. We want to expand what we offer to students and will take the time needed to do this right.”

The International Baccalaureate program is well known throughout the world as being a rigorous and interdisciplinary program of study. The program provides students a high quality, international educational experience and a global perspective on their coursework.

Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs currently offers the IB program and Westlake High School in South Fulton has applied to the International Baccalaureate Organization for candidacy. The full process can take three or more years as schools collect information, conduct feasibility studies and then apply to the International Baccalaureate Organization for approval.

Offering students and parents more flexibility in educational options has long been a hallmark of Fulton County Schools. Currently, eight charter school alternatives already are offered to students – Amana Academy, Chattahoochee Hills Charter School, Main Street Academy, Fulton Sunshine Academy, KIPP South Fulton Academy, Fulton Science Academy High School, Hapeville Charter Middle School, and Hapeville Career Academy. Two additional schools will open next fall: Latin Grammar School (K-5) and Latin College Preparatory School (6-8).

Five magnet programs – International Studies (Riverwood International Charter School), Mathematics and Science (Westlake High School), Visual and Performing Arts (Tri-Cities High School), Visual and Performing Arts (North Springs Charter High School), and Math and Sciences (North Springs Charter High School) – as well as two open enrollment schools (Independence High School and McClarin High School) are offered to provide increased rigor or flexibility.