Eisenhower’s International Program Exceeds in Preparing Students for College Success

Disponible en: Español

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program at Eisenhower Senior High School is growing strong. In the spring of 2012, IB students across the state tested in one or more of their IB subject areas. According to school officials, 89% of the senior IB Diploma candidates demonstrated college readiness by scoring a 4 or higher in their subject areas. The state average has been between 82% and 86% for senior and juniors seeking to obtain the coveted IB Diploma.

Aldine ISD offers the whole IB continuum — Primary Years Program (PYP; offered at Kujawa EC/PK Center and Kujawa Elementary School), Middle Years Program (MYP; offered at Wilson Intermediate School, Hoffman Middle School, Shotwell Middle School, and Eisenhower Ninth Grade School) and Diploma Program (DP; offered at Eisenhower Senior High). Ike Senior High became authorized in 2007-2008 to have students work toward attaining their IB Diploma. The IB program is available to all students in the district through the Magnet Schools Program in AISD. Once students reach the IB Diploma level, they must apply to continue in the IB program at Eisenhower Senior High. The program consists of a rigorous curriculum and six subject areas: Language A, Language B, individuals and society, mathematics, experimental sciences, the arts, theory of knowledge class, CAS (creative, action, service) hours, and an extended essay, which is an independent, self-directed piece of research, culminating in a 4,000-word paper. Each course has both internal assessments that are graded in-house and then moderated internationally by other IB schools. In May, students take essay exams that are shipped out and moderated internationally. Each IB student at Eisenhower must complete all components in order to be eligible for the IB Diploma.

Around the world, only 80% of IB students are awarded the IB Diploma. Since the program’s inception at Ike, 20 out of 126 students who attempted have attained the IB Diploma. Many students have applied the IB Diploma toward college credits. Even if a student does not receive the IB Diploma, he or she is still eligible to apply his or her scores to receive college credit.

Principal Ben Ibarra is excited about the success of the IB program. In 2012, Ike had its fourth group of students graduate from the IB program.

“I am very excited about the success of the IB program and will work with staff to continue to build upon the success,” said Ibarra. “The leadership team strongly believes that Eisenhower Senior should have the best IB program possible and this is our goal. The IB teachers are totally dedicated to student achievement.”

Ibarra also attributes the success of the program at Ike to Robert Mansour, the IB campus coordinator, as well as the spirit of teamwork.

“Robert Mansour is doing an outstanding job,” noted Ibarra. “He has sent teachers to the best IB staff development and training possible. The coordinator and the teachers are constantly collaborating. Teamwork is the key to success.”

Mansour concurred with Ibarra.

“I think of the adage ‘it takes a whole village to raise a child,’” commented Mansour. “We have the support of Principal Ibarra and the rest of the campus administration staff to do what we need to ensure the success of our students. The IB program in Aldine ISD is unique in that we have Kim Corrick who serves as district support for the whole continuum of the IB program with whatever IB teachers need.

“Our parents are involved and encourage our students to persevere through the strenuous yet rewarding experience that is the IB Diploma Program. Most importantly, are the sacrifices and extra effort of the teachers and staff are willing to put forth. We have experienced teachers who are trained on a regular basis to maintain rigor and constantly improve their teaching strategies.”

The students who have earned the IB Diploma at Ike have gone on to study at major universities across the state and the U.S. Many have maintained a connection with their alma mater through the campus’ Grads Give Back initiative to encourage others to pursue the rigorous program and attain the IB Diploma.

Take for example, IB graduate Jimmy Gómez of the Class of 2010 who went to study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on a full-ride scholarship. He earned 24 college credit hours for his IB Diploma. Due to the level of work he provided in his visual arts portfolio that he submitted with his application, Gómez secured a work-study position with the Holography and Spatial Imaging Initiative at the MIT Museum.

“I was once told that one of the IB program goals is to develop well-rounded individuals while providing rigorous coursework to prepare students for their college experience. Was this goal achieved? Yes,” asserted Gómez. “The IB program served as an introduction to what I would be getting myself into at MIT. All the IB projects and essays and all the consecutive tests between different subjects are all characteristics that hold here in college.

“MIT is a very technical college where math and science are major components. The IB program helped me develop how I see or interpret things. In other words, it helped me see things from different perspectives. The IB visual arts course really helped me develop this skill. The whole IB concept of being well rounded followed me to MIT where we are required to take classes in the humanities, arts, and social sciences every semester in order to graduate. That is the one thing that has not changed in my life since I joined the IB program at Eisenhower Senior High, and I am glad the program incorporated the ideal of being well rounded before I started attending college.”

Dante González of the Class of 2011 is in his second year at Syracuse University studying biomedical engineering. His fellow classmate Nernwon Kargou is studying international politics at Georgetown University. IB graduates Dimitri Mayes and Joana López are currently attending Rice University studying biomedical engineering and chemistry, respectively. Mayes remains involved and active at Ike Senior since his younger sister Briana, a junior, is following in his footsteps and seeking to attain the IB Diploma.

A couple of IB students have also obtained IB-related scholarships. The Texas International Baccalaureate Schools (TIBS) held an essay competition in 2012. Nastassia Palanetskaya and Wendy González of the Class of 2012 were two of the six in the state that received the scholarships. Additionally, classmate Saveakda Pen received a scholarship from Magnet Schools of Texas for her essay about how the IB program has influenced her life.

“We have been lucky to have a number of graduates return to give us an update as to what they are doing, how the IB Program helped prepare them as well as encourage others to pursue the IB Diploma,” related Mansour. “When I reflect upon the achievements of our students, I am extremely proud of their success. As a team, we feel confirmation that our hard work has paid off.”

Mansour also expressed excitement about the Class of 2013.

“This next class is extremely exciting because some of our IB seniors have undergone the entire IB continuum from the primary years program to diploma program,” stated Mansour.

Corrick, who also serves as the IB PYP coordinator at the Kujawa Education Center, is also proud of the foundation students in the PYP and MYP receive.

“Students who have undergone the IB PYP or MYP program in Aldine ISD have been given a strong foundation to help them achieve as a student in the IB Diploma Program,” asserted Corrick. “We are beginning to see more students go through the IB continuum in AISD and those students are being accepted into the Pre-Diploma Program.

“Consistent with our mission, we provide classroom experiences that prepare students for life as responsible citizens of their school and community. The IB Diploma Program at Eisenhower Senior High School offers academic breadth and depth to students, which better prepares them to be successful in college and beyond.”

For more information about the program at Eisenhower Senior High School or to apply for the IB program, visit the campus website via the district website, www.aldine.k12.tx.us.

The Primary Years Programme – Kujawa Education Center, Kujawa Pre-K, Kujawa Elementary (Grades K-4)

The Middle Years Programme – Wilson Intermediate School (Grades 5-6, MYP Years 1 and 2), Shotwell Middle School (Grades 7-8, MYP Years 3 and 4), Hoffman Middle School (Grades 7-8, MYP Years 3 and 4), Eisenhower 9th Grade School (MYP Year 5)