District 70 board approves IB program at PWHS

School officials have been working towards acceptance of program for more than two years.

By KRISTEN M. WHITE
The Pueblo West View

After countless hours of work and preparation during the past two years, the staff at Pueblo West High School is celebrating its recent approval to offer the International Baccalaureate program, beginning in the fall.

“We are extremely excited,” said Rachelle Bruce, IB program coordinator at PWHS. “This affords advanced students the opportunity to be pushed at the level they need and to walk out of PWHS with an extraordinary education.”

Bruce said she and PWHS Principal Martha Nogare were ecstatic when they learned, upon returning from winter break, that their school had been approved. A site team visited PWHS in September and Bruce said she was told the school would not likely hear about possible approval until May.

Bruce said she had her suspicions that PWHS had been approved when, during winter break, she checked the IB Web site and saw the school listed there.

“I told her, ‘You know it’s not official until it’s official,’ ” Nogare said. Upon returning to school, Nogare began sifting through the mail that had piled up during vacation, and located the mailing from IB.

“We’re just so excited!” said Nogare. “They announced it at the board meeting (Jan. 5) and word is already out. Rachelle is already getting e-mails.”

Although the school was just officially accepted into the IB program, plans and preparations have been under way for the past two years. The IB program is an intensive set of course work for juniors and seniors, culminating with an IB diploma if a student passes all portions.

But grooming students for entry into the program is helpful, Bruce said. She and others at PWHS have already “targeted” 22 current sophomores who have expressed a desire to begin the program next year. In preparation, they’re taking advanced courses this year.

Additionally, more than 50 current freshmen have expressed interest in the IB program, and Bruce said she’s putting feelers out to the current eighth graders as well.

“Really, we’re in very good shape already,” Bruce said. “We’re working on more professional development with the IB teachers so they’ll be ready, and we’re trying to troubleshoot any issues now so we can have a good start.”

PWHS is the second school in Pueblo County to offer the IB program. But Nogare said PWHS isn’t out to compete with East High School - where the other local IB program is - and said in an area the size of Pueblo, two IB programs are needed.

“It’s an asset to our school because we’ve lost some kids, going to East to be in the IB program, and it’s a draw for other students to our school,” Nogare said.

Additionally, the IB program does not replace or compete with Advanced Placement courses at PWHS. Bruce, an AP teacher herself, stressed that AP classes are great for students who are advanced in particular subjects, and noted that the IB program is for students looking for a challenge that includes all subjects of study, creative outlets and community service as well.

The IB program is most definitely demanding, but students who graduate from high school with an IB diploma have a big advantage when entering college.

“Part of the state law of Colorado is if a child earns an IB diploma and hasn’t failed any IB coursework, they’re guaranteed about 24 college credit hours at any Colorado university,” she explained.

The regulations and specifications vary from school to school, but in most places, a student with an IB diploma would have enough credits to begin college in sophomore standing.

“Now, you’re only paying for three years of college instead of four,” Bruce said. “That can be huge!”

Credits also vary at other schools throughout the country, including Ivy League schools. Bruce said a student with an IB program is usually a shoo-in for accelerated or gifted programs at the college level.

“This is giving our students one more opportunity, one more path to choose from at the high school level,” Bruce said.

Nogare said she is extremely proud of Bruce for tirelessly pushing through the IB program application process.

“She’s done the legwork and put all the time into it. It’s an energy and a passion, the type of thing you need as a coordinator of the program,” Nogare said. “She gives so genuinely, because she knows what the outcome is for the kids. And I think that’s typical to the nature of the staff at this school. We’re proud and excited to bring IB here.”

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