New Career Program Beginning This Fall Steven Miller, IB Coordinator and Teacher at RBHS, introduces a mural project to his Theory of Knowledge students.
The IB-for-All program at Rainier Beach High School (RBHS) supported 75 percent of the graduating class of 2022, or 156 seniors, on their way to colleges and careers in 2021-22. International Baccalaureate (IB) has historically been perceived as an exclusive program, but RBHS is breaking the mold: record numbers of students are enrolling in IB courses, representing one of the highest proportions of dual-credit scholars in Washington State who are matriculating to postsecondary programs.
IB programs at RBHS are supported in part by the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy and require students to develop interdisciplinary critical thinking through a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum. The design of the course capitalizes on students’ abilities by allowing them to include areas of interest into projects and exams.
Every student at Rainier Beach has access to IB classes, giving them a competitive edge when applying to colleges. Students select either the Diploma or Medallion curriculum based on their desired outcomes. Diploma program graduates receive an internationally recognized credential. Some students obtain advanced placement and college credit based on their test scores and the college they want to attend. With its six subject areas, Theory of Knowledge class, independent research paper, and service learning, the Diploma program might be challenging for students with other obligations, such as athletics, employment, or caring for family members. To make IB more accessible, professors at RBHS developed the Medallion program, which is tough but less demanding, requiring fewer courses and less class time, and resulting in appealing applications for students without an IB diploma.
Expanding access to educational opportunities, municipal funding
Dedicated school communities collaborating to provide transformative possibilities for students make IB programs viable. Colin Pierce, Senior K12 Advisor at DEEL, Ivory Brooks, RBHS Principal, Steven Miller, RBHS IB Coordinator, and Dr. Dwany Chappelle, Director of DEEL, are pictured from left to right.
FEPP Levy School Based Investments (SBI) enhance IB at RBHS by enhancing educational resources for students and augmenting state and school district funding. SBI grants enable thirty levy-partner schools to implement individualized solutions for their distinct student populations. In the 2021-2022 school year, Rainier Beach, one of the SBI schools recognized in DEEL’s FEPP Year 2 annual report, committed roughly half of their school’s entire SBI money, or $287K, on inclusive IB programming.
“Levy financing is crucial because it enables us to send more children to four-year colleges for free and place them on higher-paying job tracks. Without it, we could not offer math lab classes, interventionists, and other services that prepare students for IB college-level coursework. According to Steven Miller, RBHS IB Coordinator and IB Theory of Knowledge Teacher, the IB program is vital to kids because it affords them opportunities they deserve.
Dr. Dwane Chappelle, Director of DEEL, stated that IB is an integral part of the preschool to postsecondary continuum being developed for Seattle children because it ensures a well-rounded educational experience for the entire school community. It challenges instructors to improve teaching practices, cooperate, utilize data, and include families in order to positively affect kids; these are the characteristics that make schools successful.
IB is the foundation of DEEL’s relationship with Rainier Beach. Prior to joining the City, DEEL Director Dr. Dwane Chappelle served as RBHS principal from 2011 to 2015, where he was responsible in initiating the program and coordinating the IB application and implementation processes. Since then, leadership has passed to the current principal, Ivory Brooks, a staunch advocate for accessible IB. Colin Pierce, DEEL’s Senior Advisor of K-12 School Programs, also worked as the school’s first IB Coordinator from 2011 to 2019, engaging with families and the community to apply for and implement the IB program, setting the groundwork for the program as it exists today. In his present position at DEEL, Colin Pierce collaborates closely with current IB Coordinator Steven Miller to continue the program’s assistance.
Pierce stated that establishing the IB program at Rainier Beach was essential to the school’s family- and community-led rehabilitation. “The community told us what teaching and learning should look like at Rainier Beach, and that it should be tailored to assist all kids, even those who are frequently disenfranchised by advanced programs. We created a program that delivers transformative chances for kids with their assistance.”
Strengthening College and Career Pathways
This fall will mark the launch of a new IB Career Program funded by the FEPP Levy, which will augment the IB-for-All program by bolstering college and career pathways, particularly for those pursuing skilled trades. Beginning in 2023, IB Career Program graduates will possess knowledge and hands-on work experience in their field of choice. Additionally, the program will give a new instructor dedicated to assisting students with their next steps towards internships, jobs, or college.
“What thrills me the most about our Career Program is that kids interested in construction, culinary arts, or the automotive industry will have an instructor to help them transition into these industries. Steven Miller remarked, “This program will strengthen our school’s pipeline to these industries and deepen our partnerships with local employers in methodical ways that will better benefit our students.”
DEEL invests in innovative programs to expedite Seattle students’ educational and professional goals. As with all Seattle public high school graduates, Rainier Beach IB graduates have access to City-funded programs, such as the Seattle Promise program that offers free tuition at Seattle Colleges. Through the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) and Path to UW, students have even more possibilities to transfer to a four-year institution with additional mentorship and financial help.
City-funded postsecondary pathways for RBHS IB & Career Program graduates, including the Seattle Promise at Seattle Colleges, WSOS Baccalaureate (BAS) and Career and Technical Scholarships (CTS), and Path to UW.
As the commencement ceremony begins, a senior from RBHS waves to the audience.
This September, many Rainier Beach IB 2022 graduates will begin on their greatest adventure to date: college. In addition to the new Seattle Promise scholars who will attend Seattle Colleges, many 2022 graduates will attend four-year institutions across the country, including the University of Washington, Pacific Lutheran University, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, University of California Los Angeles, Dartmouth, and Portland State. Congratulations to the new graduates!