Durango School District 9-R chose the International Baccalaureate Progamme in 2009, as part of our Strategic Plan. A committee of students, parents, community members, administrators, teachers and support staff created this plan. The Strategic Plan represents the goals and major focus areas that serve as the foundation for our future as we provide high quality educational opportunities for all students. International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) directly supports strategy 3 and is partially funded through Mill Levy funds.
STRATEGY 3: We will design and deliver district-wide curricula and assessments, based on “standards of excellence” that integrate 21st Century skills across disciplines. Action step: Identify the qualities of research-based curricula that meet 9-R’s standards of excellence, essential learning goals and 21st century goals for example International Baccalaureate.
In 2009 the district chose Animas Valley as the third school to adopt the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). The school applied for candidacy and was accepted. In the 2010-2011 school year our staff begin the implementation of the programme.
In the fall of 2012 our school applied to become and authorized IB school.
In the spring of 2013, Animas Valley became an authorized IB-PYP school.
IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education—that we believe is important for our students.
* Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its three academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP) or the Diploma Programme (and in addition the IB Career-related Certificate). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.
For further information about the IB and its programmes visit http://www.ibo.org.