IB just started offering the IB diploma online, http://www.pamojaeducation.com/courses.  Since WCSD’s optimistic estimate is only 15 students will get the IB diploma over the first two years.  The online IB diploma should be offered for the 7.5 students per year who want the IB diploma.  Then we would be able to keep our high school intact for the other 80 graduates per year: 16 AP classes, We the People, JROTC, AVID, sports, PLC’s, etc.  Students could get the AP International Diploma (APID) with no extra cost.  Then we could focus on K-8 because the current research shows our high school students are struggling in, science, math and English. 

We could drop IB, (and keep the UN ideology away from our youngest children) and bring back a science teacher at the elementary and middle school level.  Add the Core Knowledge program K-7, and the SpringBoard program for 8^th grade.  SpringBoard is developed to get more kids into AP (college level) classes, not downgrade to IBDP (college prep.)  Unlike IB both Core Knowledge and SpringBoard have research to show they can improve student performance.  They cost a lot less than IB, and are not controversial.  This plan could work with little negative impact on current classes or programs.