For the first time, Rye High School juniors and seniors can enroll in International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, adding options to the school’s already plentiful offerings of AP classes and an alternative path, The Academy.
“This fall, over 100 students will be enrolled in IB classes, reflecting the excitement about this new program,” said Assistant Principal Cody Blume, who is also the former IB Programme Coordinator.
A nonprofit educational foundation comparable to — and sometimes mistaken for — the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum, the IB offers various international education programs designed to enrich high school students’ learning. Similar to AP, students may receive college credits for their IB courses.
RHS now offers the IB Diploma Programme (DP), “a rigorous two-year educational programme designed for students in their junior and senior years” according to the school website. The DP aims to prepare students for “university success by providing a broad and challenging curriculum.”
Students who wish to graduate with the IB diploma are required to take six IB courses and pass all exams in addition to completing three core elements: Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay (an independent research paper), and Creativity, Activity, Service (hands-on community experience). Any junior or senior may also take individual IB courses without enrolling in the DP.
But how do you choose between taking AP courses (RHS offers over 20), IB courses (RHS will offer 11 this first year), or enrolling in The Academy, a half-day study program focused on community engagement?
“The Academy emphasizes project-based learning, community connections, and real-world experiences,” Blume said. “The IB program is ideal for students who are interested in global perspectives, enjoy conducting research and writing beyond the classroom, and enjoy process-oriented environments. AP courses are a great fit for students who prefer focused, content-rich learning in areas that match their strengths and academic interests.”
Students are not limited to one pathway and are encouraged to create schedules that excite them.
“While AP courses focus on in-depth content knowledge, IB courses tend to take a more global perspective, encouraging students to connect ideas across subjects and consider real-world issues through an international lens.”
Blume said the introduction of IB is not expected to affect enrollment in AP courses or The Academy at the high school.
Still, some parents wonder how IB will compare to the AP path.
“People are wondering how colleges will view [students who took IB courses],” said RHS parent Monica Brenner.
Parents want their children to take courses that set them up for acceptance into top colleges. and “No one wants to feel like the guinea pig” with this brand-new academic program, Brenner said.
Brenner said her daughter Claire will be taking the IB Business Management course, because of its real-life applications.
Rye resident Josh Bieber, who is also director of College Advising at Brigham Learning, an independent educational consulting business, said colleges view the IB Program positively because it “provides a rigorous, holistic education that is globally respected.” He added, “Students with an IB diploma are viewed as strong, capable candidates by top colleges, often leading to higher acceptance rates.”
Blume concurred, “It’s important to note that colleges do not favor one academic pathway over another. Admissions evaluate students within the context of their college or university and how well a student’s academic opportunities align with their missions and values.”
While registration in AP courses continues to be high, RHS does plan to eventually phase out AP foreign language courses and replace them with IB language offerings, Blume said.
“That said, students will still have the option to take AP exams without being enrolled in the corresponding AP course, giving them additional flexibility,” he added.
While Blume helped launch the IB curriculum at RHS, English teacher Anthony Frabizzio has taken over as the new IB Programme coordinator and will teach the IB Language and Literature course this year.
“The more I’ve learned about IB…the more I’ve marveled at how tightly designed it is,” Frabizzio said. “Each component of the student experience is in conversation with the others. What you study in class should inform what you research, and what you research should inform your service projects.”
Frabizzio said the IB classes are creatively constructed, and he’s looking forward to teaching his first one. “It was fun to choose texts from different time periods, languages, and cultures. Some might see those requirements as restrictions, but I enjoy the challenge of solving those kinds of challenges.”
RHS teachers had mixed reactions to the introduction of the IB curriculum.
“Like anything new, there’s some apprehension,” said Frabizzio. “I think we have a pretty good track record of identifying new programs that, once implemented, make us better teachers and provide great experiences for students.”
What Fabrizzio is most excited about is how this new program could potentially shift the academic culture at Rye High.
“It might be a crude analogy, but education can feel a bit transactional sometimes: I give you an assignment, you give me your work, and I give you a grade,” he said. “IB wants students to recognize the value of their work, whether it’s toward further research or a project that might help the community.”
