Fairmont High School will pilot International Baccalaureate Career program next year

Fairmont High School staff told the Kettering Board of Education on March 3 that the school will pilot the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme next school year and that grant funding covered the application fee and staff training.

The presenter said the school currently has 28 students in the junior/senior IB diploma cohort and more than 400 students taking at least one IB course. She said the pilot will initially enroll roughly 30 students and will not require hiring new full-time teachers because existing IB-qualified staff will deliver the program; the district plans to add three supplemental contracted positions to support language and culture study, community engagement and coordination of the reflective project component.

Why it matters: The IB Career-related Programme is designed to allow students to combine career and technical coursework with IB coursework and core components that emphasize professional skills, language/culture study, community engagement and a reflective project. The presenter said the program allows students to pursue both CTC pathways and IB coursework without choosing between them.

What’s next: School staff expected application authorization in late April or early May and a program start next fall if authorized. The district said it will monitor enrollment and report back to the board in future updates.