Like Dewey, Soldan or Metro?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions by families familiar with the St. Louis Public Schools.  SLPS has a well-respected international studies K-12 program at Dewey (elementary), Bunche (middle) and Soldan (high school) as well as an IB program at Metro.  How will SLLIS schools be different from these successful schools?

International Studies vs. Language Immersion
The international studies program in the SLPS schools does not have an immersion option at any grade level.  Students at Dewey are exposed to a variety of language and culture studies in isolated classes as well as school-wide celebrations and emphasis on intercultural understanding. Bunche and Soldan offer a large variety of world language courses and co-curricular culture groups, but again, the language learning program is isolated like the secondary programs that most Americans attended. At every SLLIS elementary school, all of the subject matter, with the exception of English, will be taught in the immersion language.  Starting in kindergarten SLLIS students will be able to follow and perform their entire school day in another language.  When they complete 5th grade they will be able to perform all of their school work in both languages.  In the eventual SLLIS middle school and high school students will be able to begin a third language of study and potentially graduate completely bilingual, biliterate and proficient in a third language.

IB for all students
What about Metro or Lindbergh in South County?  Both of these high schools successfully offer traditional IB Diploma Programmes.   The Diploma Programme curriculum was the first framework designed by the International Baccalaureate Organization and is most well-known for offering an additional diploma and individual course credits that are often recognized by universities (like AP or Advanced Credit programs).  Traditional IB programs are operated as a track within a comprehensive school that is generally only followed by the most motivated students, often those who have tested into the school or IB program.

The IB curriculum actually starts in pre-K and at SLLIS we will introduce all of our students and teachers to the IB from the very beginning and continue the curricular frameworks throughout the secondary years.  While teaching at Baccalaureate School for Global Education (BSGE) I was able to witness first-hand the gains that all students can make when the universal expectation was the IB Diploma.  Instead of making SLLIS have competitive entrance requirements or only expecting success from the brightest students, SLLIS will teach the ways of working and learning that enhance a student’s ability to be successful on measures like the IB exams.  What impresses me most about this concept of IB For All Students are the gains that average students make when faced with consistently high standards.  At BSGE we had students who were below, at and above grade level at the beginning of their studies.  To see a student who, in a regular school, might never be encouraged to pursue IB studies, receive an IB certificate was just as rewarding as seeing the top student receive the full diploma.  Our goal is to prepare a broader range of students for this rigorous and rewarding intellectual experience.