More Palm Beach County Schools Receive International Baccalaureate Authorization
The School District of Palm Beach County’s is proud to announce the two newest authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) schools—William T. Dwyer High School and Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School.
William T. Dwyer High School’s IB Diploma Programme is the fifth authorized IB Diploma Programme in the District. The K-12 IB continuum in the North Area is further enhanced with the addition of the programmes at Dwyer and Bethune. These two schools join the ranks of 3,160 International Baccalaureate schools serving 909,000 students in over 140 countries. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School’s IB Primary Years Programme is the fifth authorized IB Primary Years Programme in Palm Beach County.
“We are committed to empowering and supporting students and their families in making informed, educational decisions leading to post-secondary education and career options to compete in today’s rapidly changing global society,” said Barbara Terembes, Director of Department of Choice and Career Options.
The International Baccalaureate is an international educational foundation that supports three programmes (Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma) for students aged 3 to 19. It ensures increased adaptability and mobility for students. In all three programmes, students are challenged to develop critical and creative thinking and to take action as a result of what they have learned. The curriculum focuses on research based best practices of learning and teaching that build the intellectual, personal, emotional, and social skills needed to live and work in a rapidly globalizing world.
In order to become an International Baccalaureate School, a school must follow and pass a rigorous application process that requires extensive time and effort from the entire school staff as well as assistance from the regional IB office. This includes mandatory professional development requirements for administrators and teachers, teacher collaboration, a review of the school’s current curriculum, and work to further develop the rigor and relevance of the curriculum. The final step in the authorization process is a visit by an IB visiting team to review the implementation of the IB programme as it aligns with the IB Programme Standards and Practices.
Due to the hard work and dedication from faculty, staff, parents, and students at both William T. Dwyer High School and Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School, both schools had reports submitted to the IB Director General recommending authorization.
The Department of Choice and Career Options fully supports all of the IB Programmes established in fourteen schools throughout the School District of Palm Beach County.
For more information contact Barbara Terembes at (561) 629-8518 or via e-mail at terembb@palmbeach.k12.fl.us.
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Public Affairs Contact: Natalia Arenas – (561) 357-7662 – arenasn@palmbeach.k12.fl.us
