Hope High School Formally Applies to Become an International Baccalaureate School, Begins Planning Process with School Community

PROVIDENCE, RI - The Providence Public School Department announced today that Hope High School has formally submitted an application to begin offering the International Baccalaureate program, a globally-recognized, rigorous educational program, to students within the next two years. If approved, Hope High School will become the only public school in the state to offer the prestigious program. This announcement is the start of a months-long planning process that will take place in partnership with students, teachers, parents, and the community.  

“Creating a culture of high expectations for our students is a major focus of our turnaround effort, and the IB program will help us do just that,” said Superintendent Harrison Peters. “We know that our students are fully capable of academic success—but we need to give them the tools and support they need to really thrive. I look forward to completing the approval process and distinguishing Hope High School as one of the only schools to offer the IB Program in Rhode Island.”

“The renowned IB program promotes academic excellence and will help position students for success in the ever-changing world that awaits them,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “Hope High School will be a model to follow with the implementation of this innovative initiative that places an emphasis on academic rigor and critical thinking. I’m proud of the work done by the school community to advance this effort and I’m committed to continuing to collaborate with them to improve outcomes for students through more enriching learning experiences.”

Through the International Baccalaureate Organization’s Diploma Programme, high school students in their junior and senior years can enroll in IB courses and potentially earn college credit. Students who choose to participate in the full IB course program will complete their academic career in PPSD with an IB Diploma and Hope High School diploma. Students can also choose to take select IB courses in specific interest areas—those students will receive an IB certificate for successful completion of the class. College credit may be earned for those courses as well following the IB Exam, similar to the AP program. PPSD will cover all student costs associated with the program, including the cost of IB Exams. The District is also looking to add the IB Middle Years Programme to Hope High School, which would prepare all students in 9^th and 10^th grade for success in the IB Diploma Programme.

Hope High School’s plan to offer the IB program addresses several community needs outlined in the Turnaround Action Plan:

• It prioritizes rigorous, grade-level curricula for students.
• Due to the program’s specific aim of creating cultural and global awareness, it is a supportive environment for multilingual learners.
• It will help the district increase the number of students who graduate with college credits.

In the coming months, Hope High School and PPSD administrators will work closely with the International Baccalaureate Organization to complete all necessary steps and move forward with the approval process. The first successful step would potentially include Hope High School officially becoming an IB-candidate school later this year. The District hopes to complete the organization’s approval process and begin offering IB courses to students by Fall 2023, if not sooner. 

While overall efforts to transform the district were driven by a broad range of committed Providence stakeholders, efforts to reimagine Hope High School have been focused on the school community, with involvement from students, families, faculty and staff.

Learn more about the IB program here. 

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