Rockford Public Schools to launch International Baccalaureate Candidate School next year

November 16, 2022|By Kevin Haas|In Local, Rockford, Trending, 815 News
Rockford Public Schools Superintendent Ehren Jarrett said adding an International Baccalaureate Candidate School is “not only great for our district, it’s great for our community.” He’s shown Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, at a news conference about a partnership with Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our mobile app

ROCKFORD — Rockford Public Schools plans to launch an internationally recognized program that challenges students to take responsibility for their own learning, think critically and learn another language.

The district will launch an International Baccalaureate Candidate School at Conklin Elementary School, 3003 Halsted Road, in the 2023-24 school year. The program is designed for children ages 3-19. Rockford Public Schools plans to pilot the program at the elementary school and grow it in future years.

“This is an exciting opportunity for families in the northwest side of our district to choose a special program that’s close to home,” Superintendent Ehren Jarrett said in a news release. “Adding an IB candidate school to our already robust menu of special programs is not only great for our district, it’s great for our community.”

Related: New homes in west Rockford to be built in partnership with Rockford Public Schools

There are more than 5,000 IB schools across the world, according to the organization’s website. Each school must go through an authorization process that prepares it for teaching the curriculum.

“Our programmes encourage both personal development and academic achievement challenging students to think critically, to ask the right questions and think across disciplines,” the organization says on its website. “An IB education also fosters diversity, curiosity and a healthy appetite for learning.”

Conklin students who are in English- or Spanish-speaking classes in grades K-4 will have the first opportunity to apply to attend the IB candidate school. The application window opens Friday and closes March 2.

Related: How a Rockford school uses silly greetings to connect with students

Students who attend McIntosh, Welsh and West View elementary schools in grades K-4 can apply for any remaining open seats. That application window opens in January and closes March 10.

Students in the Conklin, McIntosh, Welsh or West View attendance zones can apply for a seat through the 2023-2024 kindergarten lottery. Siblings will be given priority for available seats. That application window is also January through March 10.

How to learn more

International Baccalaureate (IB) Candidate School primary program model. (Image via Rockford Public Schools/205 Vibe)

To apply for a seat, families must attend a meeting to learn about the IB candidate school. Families can join a meeting at any of the schools, even if it’s not their current school. All meetings will include presentations in English and Spanish.

Schedule

  • 2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 at Conklin Elementary School, 3003 Halsted Road, Rockford
  • 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29 at McIntosh Elementary School, 525 N. Pierpont Ave., Rockford
  • 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 at Welsh Elementary School, 2100 Huffman Blvd., Rockford
  • 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 at West View Elementary School, 1720 Halsted Road, Rockford
  • 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 via Zoom. Attend virtually here.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.