WHS named IB candidate school

Westlake High School was recently recognized as a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. WHS is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools worldwide that share a common philosophy – a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education with a focus on rigor and inquiry that Westlake believes is important for its students.

WHS will work through the candidacy phase through Fall 2015, to establish a Diploma Programme for juniors and seniors. Students will have the opportunity to graduate with an IB Diploma Certificate.  

WHS joins the district’s four elementary schools, which are awaiting recognition as IB World Schools this fall. The IB Primary Years Programme supports learning in all academic areas. The district chose to pursue IB PYP certification following an appreciative inquiry process through its Continuous Improvement Plan. Through that process the community called the district to action to grow internationally competent, competitive and engaged learners.

Through the IB program, students participate in activities that put an emphasis on the whole child. The process encourages students to choose, reflect and act not only in their academics, but in the school, community and beyond.

IB works with 3,641 schools in 146 countries and offers programming to more than one million students. There are 1,448 world schools in the U.S., in Ohio there are 35.