Student-centred: access for all
The right environment
The Lamar Academy in Texas is a prime example of what can be achieved by looking at the needs of students, says Jeanette LaFevers, IB coordinator.
McAllen, Texas, is home to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Lamar Academy. This fast-growing metroplex with more than 500,000 residents is part of the Rio Grande Valley and lies along the extreme southern border of the United States.
McAllen is a study in contrasts. Citrus groves and acres of crops dot the landscape and these farm operations have historically been an important part of the Valley’s economy. Equally important to the economy of the region are the multinational companies known as Maquilladoras that have, as a result of the NAFTA agreements, moved their manufacturing operations along both sides of the US-Mexico border. These industries have infused the area with a multicultural community.
Since the Valley forms an important corridor for migratory species, bird watchers and butterfly enthusiasts help to create a healthy tourist-based economy. McAllen’s mild winters attract a large number of part-time residents known as ‘Winter Texans’. These visitors from the northern United States and Canada stay for five or six months and bolster up the local economy. McAllen is also a shopping haven for Mexican residents.
About seven years ago, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation approached the superintendent of the McAllen Independent School District (ISD) and encouraged the district to develop a centre of excellence that would attract residents to McAllen and give its students
a competitive edge over other schools in the Rio Grande Valley. They provided money to complete a study of available programmes. After the study
was complete, the school district applied to become an IB World School. Thus, Lamar Academy was authorized and began offering classes in 2001.
When we first looked into the IB Diploma Programme, the teachers involved with the study were unsure if it would be the right ‘fit’ for McAllen’s students. McAllen ISD is a Title One area
– an education system for children at risk of school failure, who live in low-income communities; 95% of our students are Hispanic, many are migrant students, and we have a large number of immigrants. After several trainings, school visits, consultations with the regional office and planning, we began to believe we could do it – and we did. Lamar Academy graduated the fifth class of IB students in May 2006. Our school and district are proud that all of our 99 IB students have earned diplomas over the past four years.
Our success began with our Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development
Corporation, which gave financial support and ensured that the business community would endorse the programme. Early
on, the school district decided
to put the programme at Lamar Academy rather than at one of the three comprehensive high schools. The programme was set up so that the students who attempted the IB Diploma Programme were still considered students at their home campus, where they participated in electives, fine arts, and athletics, while they took all
of their academic (IB) classes at Lamar Academy.
To ensure all students had equal access to the programme, the district elected to absorb 100% of the cost. Information about the programme was disseminated to all parts of the school district and, as a result,
we succeeded in attracting a
wide variety of students. The total commitment from the IB faculty, staff, and the coordinator has created a culture of attainable
high expectations. Finally, we
have developed our IB Diploma Programme as a partnership between the students, faculty and parents. We make every attempt to keep open lines of communication and to listen to parents and students when they have concerns.
The IB Diploma Programme has given our students the confidence to compete with the rest of the world. Its success has prompted our district to expand into the Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes. Six elementary schools and three middle schools have submitted applications and will begin implementation in the school year 2006-2007. And McAllen ISD superintendent Yolanda Chapa has indicated she would like to see McAllen ISD implement the IB continuum district-wide.
"Our school and district are proud that all of our 99 IB students have earned diplomas over the past four years."
"The total commitment from the IB faculty, staff, and the coordinator has created a culture of attainable high expectations."
