Program Prepares Students to Succeed in College Courses

The International Baccalaureate Program could be the reason why the Academy of Richmond County moved from being a 3-A to a 4-A school.

It’s definitely why there are so many students at school with heavy backpacks.

International Baccalaureate is designed for high school students to receive the best preparation for success in college.

“It’s college for the high school student,” said Christopher Jackson, 17, one of the school’s diploma candidates for 2007.

The goal is, “to create the well-rounded, informed international citizens,” said Charlie Tudor, the dean for the program at Richmond Academy. International Baccalaureate began at the school in 2003.

Students in the program are required to take theory of knowledge and thinking/philosophy classes, to write an extended essay (a 3,500- 4,000 word research paper), to be fluent in a foreign language and to devote 150 hours in CAS, a program that urges creativity, action and service.

“The purpose of CAS is to get kids to engage their minds creatively and share, become physically aware of themselves and to help others.” said Mark Hallman, the Pre-IB/IB economics teacher at Richmond Academy and the CAS and extended essay coordinator.

Students who do not get IB diplomas will get certificates from the courses taken. If the scores are high enough in the courses, they can count as Advanced Placement scores for the college-course equivalent.

“But I don’t want to talk in terms of certificates, every student is a diploma candidate” Mr. Tudor said.

“The program is very good … it’s challenging and difficult,” Christopher said. “The IB program provides an educational foundation which will propel us to prosperous years in college.”

Brianna Mack, 15, a junior at Academy of Richmond County

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