Announcing !!!!! International Baccalaureate (IB) and Gateway High School

Gateway High School is working toward becoming an IB World School.  9^th grade students, who enter Gateway High School, the fall of 2010, will have the opportunity to be part of the IB Middle Years Program.

International Baccalaureate is a worldwide educational organization known for assisting schools to develop challenging academic programs of international education and rigorous assessment. IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.  Gateway High School with the support of IB is implementing the Middle Years Program (MYP) in 2010 to be followed by the Diploma Program in 2012.

The Middle Years Program will be one of the options available to students at Gateway High School.  Students who wish to pursue advanced coursework during the 9^th and 10^th grade years will be part of the Middle Years Program.  All honors level classes will be taught within MYP.  Students will be expected to take 8 classes over the course of the 9^th grade year.

• MYP Honors English 9 or MYP Galaxy English 9
• MYP Honors Geography/Civics
• MYP Honors Biology or MYP Galaxy Biology
• MYP Honors Math (depending on students’ math level)
• MYP Honors Integrated Algebra/Geometry 2
• MYP Honors Integrated Algebra/Trig 3
• MYP Honors Geometry
• MYP Foreign Language (Spanish or French)
• MYP Art (visual arts or performing arts – vocal, instrumental or drama)
• MYP Technology/Design (computer, woodworking) or Galaxy Engineering
• MYP Physical Education and Health

Within MYP there will be 2 educational options students may pursue.  Students who are interested in the math and science fields will select the Galaxy program with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math.  Students who are interested in the liberal arts fields will focus on a well rounded course of study.  All of the students will take the required coursework, but the emphasis within the classes will vary depending on the academic focus.  Successful completion of MYP, at the end of 10^th grade, will provide students with the depth of skills and knowledge to decide their educational pathway for the last two years of high school.  They may opt for continuing with IB through the Diploma Program, select to take Advanced Placement classes, pursue coursework at Pickens Technical College or begin to take classes at the Community College of Aurora.  Whatever their choice, students who complete the MYP program will have a solid foundation on which to build their future.

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