Central Academy First in Iowa to Offer World-Renowned Academic Program . . .

DES MOINES APPROVED FOR INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMME

DES MOINES (February 7, 2008) – High school students in Des Moines will have the opportunity to study and complete a world-renowned educational degree program, school district officials have learned. The International Baccalaureate Organization has authorized Des Moines Public Schools to begin offering high school juniors and seniors the IB Diploma at Central Academy.

“In a word, this is fantastic,” said Dr. Nancy Sebring, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. “Our school district provides the most diverse educational offerings in Iowa, and to be able to bring a program that is recognized around the world for its educational excellence is a great addition for the students of our community.”

The IB Diploma Programme is designed for junior and senior high school students. Successful IB Diploma students receive college credit based on international exams in conjunction with class work. International Baccalaureate programs provide students with a broad educational curriculum that provides challenging and rigorous courses along with opportunities for language, arts and community service.

Des Moines Public Schools is the first school district in Iowa to offer the International Baccalaureate diploma, and Central Academy is the only school in the state to offer both IB and Advanced Placement courses for high school students.

Des Moines Public Schools has long been recognized for its excellent programs to prepare students for higher education. The Advanced Placement program at Central Academy is always among the top programs in the nation. Each year, hundreds of students are recognized as AP Scholars, more than any other school district in Iowa, who go on to study at the nation’s top colleges and universities.

Future plans are also being considered in Des Moines to designate one elementary and one middle school in each of the school district’s three regions to offer IB programs for K-8 students.

The first IB Diploma Programme classes will begin at Central Academy in August, with the first graduates in the Class of 2010.

The International Baccalaureate was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1968 as a non-profit educational foundation. Its original purpose was to facilitate the international mobility of students preparing for university by providing schools with a curriculum and diploma recognized by universities around the world. Since then its mission has expanded, and it now makes an IB education available to students of all ages.

There are 2,217 schools in 125 countries that provide IB programs; in the United States, 573 schools take part in the IB Diploma Programme.

For more information about the International Baccalaureate visit www.ibo.org or go to www.dmps.k12.ia.us and click on the IB graphic.

Founded 100 years ago, the Des Moines Independent Community School District is Iowa’s largest provider of public education serving the individual needs of more than 33,000 students in 60 schools with more than 5,000 dedicated teachers and staff.