24 IB World Schools Make U.S. News & World Report Top 100

IB Features Prominently in U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best High Schools" 2012

BETHESDA, Md., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Baccalaureate® (IB), a non-profit educational organization with 1346 IB World Schools in the United States and 774 U.S. high schools offering the Diploma Programme, is proud to announce that 24 IB World Schools, nearly one in four, have been named to the U.S. News & World Report's annual ranking of the top 100 high schools in America. IB's challenging program helps focus students on a goal and creates a mindset that inspires achievement. 

The 2012 rankings include data on nearly 22,000 public high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia. Considering that the IB Diploma Programme is offered in approximately three percent of all 22,000 public high schools, the IB enjoys an outsized representation among the Top 25. Fully 44 percent of the top 25 Public High Schools in the U.S. are IB World Schools, including the No. 1 magnet school in the country, Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy (CIBA).

"High schools recognize the strong value that a high quality educational program like the International Baccalaureate brings to their communities. The U.S. News & World Report's "2012 Best High School Rankings" is a testament to the efforts of public schools that make use of the well-rounded IB curriculum with its emphasis on strong analytical thinking, math, writing, and language skills to equip students for college readiness and future success," said Drew Deutsch, Director of IB Americas.

International Academy (IA) in Oakland County, Michigan ranked No. 5 on U.S. News & World Report's Best High Schools Rankings. IA runs one of the largest Diploma Programmes in the country and was the first public high school in North America to offer the IB Diploma Programme school-wide. "100 percent of IA students go on to attend college and we give great credit to our IB certified teachers who have over 390 combined years of experience," said Lynne Gibson, Head of School at IA. The popular IB Diploma Programme at IA expanded by 90 students this year and expects 304 students to graduate with the prestigious IB Diploma recognized at over 1100 universities in North America.

About the International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate is a not-for profit foundation, which offers four high quality and challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools. For over 40 years, IB programmes have gained a reputation for their high academic standards, for preparing students for life in a globalised 21st century, and for helping to develop the citizens who will create a better, more peaceful world. The IB currently works with 3,372 schools in 141 countries. To learn more, please visit www.ibo.org/iba.

The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. The programme is normally taught over two years and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities.

SOURCE International Baccalaureate