Schools / Education news

Starting in the fall, students at Santa Margarita High School will be able to enroll in the International Baccalaureate Program at their school.

After nearly two years of teacher training, curriculum revisions and accreditation reviews, the school recently received word that it had been accepted into the prestigious program.

“We’re proud to offer it,” Principal Merritt Hemenway said. “The International Baccalaureate diplomas open a lot of doors for students.”

The two-year comprehensive and intensive program will be offered to students in their junior year. The program entails course work and examinations in six areas of study: English, foreign language, social studies, science, mathematics and the arts.

The program also requires students to enroll in a course titled “Theory of Knowledge,” perform 150 hours of community services outside of the classroom and complete a 4,000-word essay based on original research.

Hemenway said the school was interested in starting the program because of its focus on global awareness, which ties into the school’s philosophy, and to expand academic opportunities for students.

“It’s the next step academically,” Hemenway said. “It offers an outstanding program for students.”