Press release—26 May 2006
Rampart High School graduation marks first for IB North America
13 graduates complete International Baccalaureate continuum
New York, NY, IB, May 26, 2006 – Rampart High School, an IB World School located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the first public high school in the United States to graduate students from the full continuum of IB Programmes – Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma. The thirteen students received their IB Diploma Wednesday evening at the Air Force Academy Field House.
Student Asad Chaudhry believes one of the major benefits of the continuum is the sense of family it creates in the challenging and rigorous courses. “Being in the same classroom with the same people for 8 or 9 years, they are like family to me now,” said Asad. In September, Asad will be attending the University of Colorado at Boulder to study electrical engineering.
Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Vedra said the IB continuum prepared the students for the inquiry-based instruction model that is the basis of the Diploma Programme, with a greater number of students graduating with the IB Diploma.
Rampart High School has seen a steady increase in the number of students graduating with the IB Diploma – from 32 students in 2005 to an anticipated 83 students in 2007. Dr. Vedra attributes the success of his students to the continuum. “It’s building expectation early on, and teaching kids what they need to get to the next level,” said Dr. Vedra.
The Academy School District 20, which includes Rampart High School, is looking to expand the IB Programme. Currently, there are 2 Primary Years Programmes, 1 Middle Years Programme and 1 Diploma Programme, with 2 more elementary schools in the Primary Years Programme authorization process. Including the 2 new schools, 20% of students in the district will be an IB student at some point in their academic lives – a total of 4,000 children.
Who will help Dr. Vedra run all the IB World Schools? He will need to look no further than graduating senior Amanda Magee. “After Colorado State, I plan to come back to Rampart and run the IB Programme,” said Amanda.
About International Baccalaureate (IB)
The International Baccalaureate (IB), an independent, non-governmental, non-profit educational organization, is a recognized leader in the field of international education, encouraging students to be active learners, well-rounded individuals and engaged world citizens. Founded in 1968, the IB today works with 1,721 schools in 122 countries to offer and develop its three challenging programs to approximately 200,000 students ranging in age from 3 to 19.
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