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G'Town High Goes International -- Long-Awaited Program 1st in Region

Posted on: Friday, 29 February 2008, 18:00 CST

By Lindsay Melvin

Germantown High School on Thursday became the first school in West Tennessee to be approved for the International Baccalaureate program.

The school will now be able to award students with the most advanced high school diploma in the world.

"I'm just thrilled," said Germantown parent Kim Boone.

"We didn't expect to get accepted until school was out."

Boone, who has a sixth-grade son at Germantown Middle, is among a swarm of parents who've been waiting for the program's approval.

Current sophomores will be the first to be eligible to apply for the challenging junior and senior year courses.

Germantown High principal Mike McIntyre and other administrators received the letter they had been awaiting for nearly three years.

"When I opened it, I looked at it for a minute," McIntyre said. "And - boom! - they started cheering and jumping up and down."

Germantown High began offering preliminary classes this year for 136 students to prepare them for the real thing.

McIntyre expects another 80 students to join the program next year, he said.

The program follows a uniform curriculum in every country it's taught and equips students with the education to attend universities around the world.

Students in the program take exams in six subjects: English, foreign language, social studies, science, math and fine arts.

But this isn't just a great accomplishment for Germantown High, McIntyre said it's a huge boost for all Shelby County schools.

"We're just opening the door that will allow this program in all high schools down the lane," he said.

- Lindsay Melvin: 529-2445

Originally published by Lindsay Melvin lindsay.melvin@commercialappeal.com .

(c) 2008 Commercial Appeal, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

Source: Commercial Appeal, The

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