NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 5, 2021) – East Nashville Magnet High School and East Nashville Magnet Middle School will start offering the acclaimed International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme to all students in grades 6-10 in 2021-22.
The IB curriculum emphasizes academic rigor and personal development through cultivation of students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills and a focus on connections between classroom studies and real-world applications.
“Bringing the IB curriculum to East High and East Middle will enhance their already strong academic offerings and create powerful new learning opportunities for hundreds of students every year, as we’ve already seen at several of our schools,” Director of Schools Adrienne Battle said. “We’ve been working to create new pathways for students through our Metro Schools Reimagined initiative, and this news represents another confident step in that direction. Congratulations to everyone at both schools who has worked so hard to make this happen.”
The schools were notified by the Switzerland-based International Baccalaureate organization this week that they have been authorized to offer the IB Middle Years Programme. East Nashville Magnet High School also hopes to add the IB Diploma Programme for grades 11-12; that approval process is ongoing.
The news comes after three years of hard work by East High Executive Principal Jamie Jenkins, East Middle Executive Principal Bruce Jackson, and other school leaders. They proved their readiness to join the global IB community of schools while doing the necessary community engagement to ensure that parents understood and supported the change.
“We are so happy to bring IB to East Nashville Magnet High School,” Principal Jenkins said. “This move will bring a globally recognized, rich curriculum to our school and a new way of learning to our students. Students will be challenged to think more deeply and express themselves more freely while receiving a number of supports to accomplish the ultimate goal of an IB Diploma.”
“Being able to start the IB student journey at East Middle is an honor,” Principal Jackson said. “Ensuring that all students have access to rigorous academic programming that challenges their thinking and develops their being is our everyday goal. We are excited about officially joining the International Baccalaureate community and delivering a world-class education to our rising Eagles!”
The two schools, both located at 110 Gallatin Ave., will now proceed with planning, professional development for teachers and support staff, and other steps before launching the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme when the new school year starts in August.
The IB curriculum also is available at MNPS’s Antioch, Hillsboro, and Hunters Lane high schools; Bellevue, Goodlettsville, J.T. Moore, and West End middle schools; and Eakin and Julia Green elementary schools.
