AAPS launches the first IB Career-related Programme (CP) in the state

Video and story by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor

By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor

Ann Arbor Public Schools’ theme for the 2018-19 school year  is “engage.”

And perhaps nothing puts that concept into action quite like the International Bacculaureate (IB) program at Huron High School, Scarlett Middle School, and Mitchell Elementary, where students are active participants in their learning.

It’s a particularly exciting year for the IB program, as the district launches the first IB Career-related Programme (CP) in the state.

The program is for Huron High School juniors and seniors who want to tie together their career interests along with a high-quality IB education.

CP students build skills academically as they study Diploma Programme courses, and technically as they learn skills in engineering, business, automotive, cosmetology or homebuilding.

“And at the same time, ” says CP Facilitator Carrie James, “they are tying that together with employability skills through the CP core advisory, looking at personal and professional skills, ethics in their career field, service, and language development.

In addition to CP, AAPS offers the following fully authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) programming: 

• Primary Years Programme (PYP) at Mitchell Elementary School, grades Pre-K-5
• Middle Years Programme (MYP) in partnership at Scarlett Middle School(grades 6, 7, 8) and Huron High School (grades 9 and 10)
• Diploma Programme (DP) at Huron High School, grades 11 and 12, with 27 DP course options.  

An Ann Arbor IB education emphasizes:

• Inquiry – students asking questions, finding answers and solving problems as the basis of the curriculum;
• Global awareness – connecting the curriculum to the local, state, national and international community;
• Action and Service – learning by doing, making a positive impact as part of the curriculum;
• World languages – all students learning a world language;
• Access and Equity – intentional development of curriculum and supports connected to the needs of learners.

Kevin Karr, who facilitates the IB program for the district, noted that the IB program is attracting families who want just such a thoughtfully planned, meaningful and engaging education for their children.

“We’re really excited about the growth of our IB schools in Ann Arbor, ” said Karr. “It’s exciting to  me to see, for example, at Mitchell we’ve added on 16 classrooms over the last three years to make sure we can accommodate the interest.”