CLP schools move to International Baccalaureate model

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

Cache La Poudre Elementary and Middle School took a good look this past year at what its students and parents want. As a result of surveys and community meetings, the two schools decided to begin the process of becoming International Baccalaureate schools.

It takes three to five years to earn formal authorization from the International Baccalaureate Program. At that point, the programs will be known as the Primary Years IB Program at CLPE and the Middle Years IB Program at CLPMS.

CLPMS Principal Skip Caddoo said the CLP schools have traditionally attracted many school of choice students, but numbers for next fall are down by about half. He thinks part of the reason is the report submitted last year by the PSD Facility Study Committee, which listed closure of the CLP schools as an option to consider. That option was later taken off the table.

In addition, Caddoo said, 22 middle school students whose neighborhood school is CLPMS are choosing other schools this fall. A survey of those students found that about half were choosing to go to an IB program.

"They were leaving because of programs, not because they were dissatisfied with the school," Caddoo said.

This past spring, enrollment at CLPE was down to 296, while the middle school had 355 students.

Administrators worked with a "branding committee" of teachers, parents and community members this past year to identify models that might work at the CLP schools and appeal to students and their families. While they considered both the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and PBL (project-based learning) approaches, the IB program came out on top.

Staff members at the two schools made the final decision, Caddoo noted. "The IB program best fit our buildings and the work we already do," he said.

He further explained that the IB approach is not a separate curriculum but a method for presenting material. The IB method seeks to integrate all eight instructional areas, he said.

Administrators from the LaPorte schools attended an IB training at the end of June. Next school year, three to five teachers will attend IB trainings.

Another initiative being undertaken at the LaPorte schools is the creation of a PreK-8 campus, with integration of activities and some instructional staff. Caddoo said in the future the schools could share staffing in areas such as specials, world languages and technology.