Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Tuesday, May 1, 2007

There is a great deal of excitement around Tates Creek High School these days as TCHS becomes only the 5th high school in the Commonwealth of Kentucky to earn the prestigious status of an authorized International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme School. Full implementation of the IB Programme at TCHS will begin in August of 2007.

This effort began in 2002-03 when all five high schools in the district were awarded the first Smaller Learning Communities grant. At that time, Tates Creek High School established three main goals: To raise the academic bar for all students, raise the rigor and relevance for all students and close the achievement gap for all students. In their research and study, Tates Creek determined that the IB Diploma Programme would allow them to effectively achieve all three of these goals. At that point, they started down the long path towards authorization.

Their application was over 400 pages long and included over thirteen detailed course descriptions. Not only did they develop a course of study for the Diploma Programme, but they also developed the ACE Pre-Diploma Programme because they realized the higher order and critical thinking skills required of IB would be imperative to introduce in the 9th and 10th grade years.

As a result of countless hours of work, training and a very successful site visit by the International Baccalaureate Organization team, Tates Creek is proud to say they are an authorized International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme School. Currently there are 112 students enrolled in the 9th grade ACE Pre-Diploma Programme, 70 in the 10th grade ACE Pre-Diploma Programme and 36 in the actual 11th grade IB Diploma Programme.

Through the rigor of the IB Programme, all students at Tates Creek High School will be exposed to the higher order critical thinking skills and academic expectations. Tates Creek High School is very committed to providing a quality education for all of their students. To date, they have sent over 50 teachers and support staff to IB training. These teachers are instructing students at all levels and will incorporate the tenets of the IB Programme in all of their classes. Integral to the IB Programme is thinking, processing and applying information. IB is about producing life long learners who can be effective global citizens in the 21st century.

Admissions directors at various universities have congratulated Tates Creek High School on this prestigious honor of becoming a fully authorized IB school. They recognize what a huge deal this is for Tates Creek, Fayette County Public Schools and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Additional information on the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Tates Creek High School can be found on the program’s website: The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at TCHS, or by contacting the IB Coordinator, Teri Harper – phone (859) 381-3623; email teri.harper@fayette.kyschool.us.)