International Baccalaureate Program Prepares Students for Higher Learning

Fort Lee High School's International Baccalaureate program (IB Diploma Program) offers students a nationally accepted way for readying themselves for high school and the demanding particulars of college academia. The program presents a demanding curriculum and innnovative approaches to indepedent projects.

Aside from the Bergen Academies, Fort Lee  High School is the only other school in Bergen County to offer the program.

The program is in its first year at FLHS. The school’s application process to get the program running was over two years long. Program Director Adrian Rodriguez, who teaches History as well as the  International Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge course at the high school, is confident it will be a success.

"In my estimation [it is] the best college preparatory curriculum available," Rodriguez said.

Students apply for the program at the end of 10th grade. The application packet includes information detailing their academic achievements, leadership potential, an essay on their interest in the program itself and a group interview.

"If students demonstrate significant academic achievements and intellectual curiosity (in addition to meeting the course prerequisites) then they are invited to join the program," said Rodriguez.

The International Baccalaureate program's curriculum is challenging but rewarding; if students pass the assessment tests at the end of the program, they can receive college credit.

“The rigor of the courses is due to not only the actual content of the course but also due to the difficulty of the IB assessments.  Students that decide to not do the entire IB Diploma Program can enroll in individual IB courses,” Rodriguez said.

The Fort Lee Board of Education page describes the “core component” of the IB program as the Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) requirement, which obliges students to fulfill 50 hours of outside of class in each of the three categories. That’s 150 hours total time spent outside of the classroom devoted to this program.

“Service activities are community service activities such as volunteering in tutoring programs, nursing homes, etc.  Creativity refers to creative activities such as learning to play a musical instruments or mastering a new, complicated piece of music, learning to dance the tango, organizing a fund-raiser, etc.  Action hours include participation in school athletic teams, learning martial arts, rock climbing, etc,” said Rodriguez.

The necessary coursework and requirements for the IB Program are completed by 11th and 12th grades. Before final assessments in May of their senior year, students must additionally complete a 15-20 page independent research project and take a basic epistemology (theory of knowledge) course.

Those who successfully complete the IB diploma program are given a prestigious secondary diploma. Rodriguez said the diploma is recognized internationally as the “most coveted secondary education credential available.”

“Many schools accept this diploma as an admission credential as well as allowing students who achieve the diploma advanced standing as sophomores,” he said.

Due to the heavy time requirements and intense academic demands, students who participate in the International Baccalaureate program cannot be in either of the other two programs the high school provides: the Academy of Finance and the Academy of Performing Arts.

“There is simply not enough room in their schedules to do more than one program,” Rodriguez said.

The IB website states "The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect,” and Rodriguez says he absolutely agrees.

“This is a great opportunity for students seeking to challenge themselves and truly prepare for success in college,” he said.