John F. Peeler Elementary School and Hector P. Garcia Middle School have been selected as candidates to become International Baccalaureate schools.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is considered among the most challenging levels of learning for primary and secondary education. The goal of IB is to connect classroom lessons to real-world issues from around the globe.
“The International Baccalaureate is a rigorous, globally recognized school model that intentionally develops inquiring, knowledgeable and caring students who actively take part in creating a better world through intercultural understanding and respect,” said Roshelle Andrews, the IB coordinator at Dallas Independent School District.
The elementary curriculum focuses on their social and emotional skills and critical thinking.
The middle school curriculum includes advanced math classes, digital product design and learning a foreign language.
“The IB Programme will allow our students to be more culturally aware and be equipped with the skills to be successful in this rapidly changing world,” said David Lee, principal of Garcia Middle School.
During the trial period, if the schools meet certain requirements to become officially designated, they will join nine other DISD schools with IB status.
“The IB Programme will allow our students to be more culturally aware and be equipped with the skills to be successful in this rapidly changing world,” Lee said.
CORRECTION, 11:25 a.m. Aug. 20, 2020: An earlier version of this story included a statement from the district that said the two schools would be the first public IB schools in Oak Cliff. But Andrews later noted that Harry Stone Montessori Academy is an IB school.
