| The third International Baccalaureate School in Illinois, St. Scholastica Academy has once again exceeded the national and international averages in test results. This prestigious program, introduced at the Academy ten years ago, is considered by colleges to be one of the best indicators of student achievement. Some U.S. universities now single out IB schools for first acceptance of applicants. In addition, institutions of higher learning offer as much as a year’s credit for those who receive the full IB Diploma. Statistics just in from the 1596 IB schools around the world list the world Diploma pass rate at 79%, the U.S. at 70%, Illinois at 39%. St. Scholastica Academy’s young women had a 100% success rate.
Since its beginning at the Academy, an average of 44% of each class have participated in the IB, either as full Diploma students or as enrolled in from one to five courses which earn IB certificates. Success rate for individual courses ranks at 82% worldwide, 77% in the U.S. and 59% in Illinois. The success rate at St. Scholastica Academy is 87%.
The International Baccalaureate Program began in Geneva, Switzerland, a half century ago. Its intention was to provide a standard of quality achievement for high school graduates recognizable worldwide. As the planet’s mobile population looks for colleges across an ever-shrinking globe, a program including foreign language proficiency, mathematics, science, writing, as well as required physical, fine arts and service components, becomes more important each year.
St. Scholastica Academy focuses on educating its students as citizens of the world. Besides the IB Program, the school also requires the study of geography and world religions. Teachers must receive special in-depth training to participate as IB faculty.
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