Registration underway for Honor Program (IB Program) at Ribault High

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Administrators at Ribault High School are getting ready for a new school year. They want a successful year. The school's grade went from an F to a D. School leaders are hoping students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme will take them in the right direction.

Students can sign up Tuesday for the program. The Principal, Royce Turner, and IB Coordinator, Lashanda Allen, are looking for 9th graders to register for the Pre IB Program. Turner told First Coast News, "This program strengthens the performance of the school. The top 10% had been going to other schools because of the FCAT grade." He hopes this program will bring some students back to their neighborhood school.

The IB Program starts when a student is in the 11th grade. Students can sign up in the 9th grade for the Pre IB Progam and take classes in the program. They take advance courses in English, Math and Science. There are courses like Theory of Knowledge (a Philosophy class).

Allen says the IB Program gets kids ready for college. "They have the opportunity for more scholarships." The program, she says, is more than just academics. It helps students socially as well.

This is a fairly new program at Ribault High. It started in 2006. The IB Program is offered at 3 schools in Duval County. Students can be a part of it at Ribault, Stanton College Preparatory and Paxon School for Advanced Studies.

Turner and Allen hope more students sign up for the IB Program. There are certain requirements for 9th graders. They must have an FCAT score of 3 or higher in Reading and Math, a 2.5 GPA and four teacher recommendations (Math, Science, English and History). Allen says since school is not in session, the teacher recommendations have been waived through the Summer.

There are a limited number of spaces. School leaders will be signing students up and providing information about the Pre IB Program at Ribault until 7 tonight. The school is at 3701 Winton Drive.