Interesting story from a High School in Texas that has offered the IB Diploma program for the past 10 years.

John Tyler Principal To Discuss IB Withdrawal

I’m still not sold that this program is good for our district. Remember, we have one of the best AP programs around and IB will simply cannibalize it as has happened in many districts around the country. Contrary to beliefs of some, this program is not for everyone. It is rigorous and is generally only completed (and attended) by elite students.

Of the 95 diploma candidates Texas’ Tyler High School has had in 10 years, less than half (41) earned IB diplomas.

Lisa Harper, the IB coordinator at Tyler HS states: “If you’re not earning diplomas, what’s the point of the program?”

I’m still disappointed that we continue to pump dollars into this program especially without a vote from our elected school board. An $80k-$200k budget expenditure which also causes a change in curriculum certainly calls for one. I certainly don’t see that as micro-managing.

We have more important issues that need to be addresses at other schools within the district.

On another front, schools around the country are finally catching on to the shortcomings of Newsweek’s H.S. Rankings developed by their education columnist (and IB fanatic) Jay Matthews. The principle behind the rankings are so flawed, that High Schools around the country are begining to write Newsweek in order to boycott the list.