Is Ozark High's IB program on the chopping block? Officials look at cost, low enrollment

Ozark High School has offered the International Baccalaureate program since 2012 but limited interest over time has the district questioning if continuing it is worth the cost.

No decision has been made and no option has been ruled out.

In the history of Ozark's program, just 148 seniors fulfilled the requirements to graduate with a full IB diploma. The students have been accepted at a range of top-notch universities — including Harvard and Yale — but interest in the program has remained relatively low.

There are currently 12 juniors and 16 seniors on track to earn the diploma. A couple dozen others are taking at least some IB courses.

IB is a rigorous and intensive college preparatory program with a global focus. The diploma candidates take a slate of challenging courses their junior and senior year. They also research and write essays, give presentations, perform community service and must score high enough on exams graded by external evaluators.

Craig Carson, assistant superintendent of learning, said when Ozark launched its IB program more than a decade ago, it did not offer the lengthy list of Advanced Placement and dual credit courses now available.

He noted AP and dual credit courses are more popular and less expensive than IB. "We are trying to see what is the most efficient way to teach our highest academic performers — as well as all of the students."

Asked if continuing the IB program is in question, Carson said: "The conversation is on the table." He added that no decision is "imminent."

"We will eventually give a recommendation to the board and it will be based on student need and budget," Carson said.

In Missouri, only 13 public and private high schools offer the full IB diploma program including Springfield's Central High School, where it has been in place for decades. Others are located in Camdenton, Lee's Summit and the Kansas City and St. Louis areas.

The district first examined the demand and cost-effectiveness of the IB program in the spring as part of a "Bang for the Buck" meeting.

To follow up, a lengthier presentation was made during the Sept. 21 board meeting by Carson, high school principal Jeremy Brownfield and others. Two questions about the IB program were also asked during the board's Oct. 10 town hall meeting.

As part of the September presentation, officials said the high school offers 20 IB courses and 10 AP courses but the interest in AP is higher.

They pointed to pros and cons of the IB program. The positives cited were the small group cohort, that it encourages complex problem-solving, builds cultural awareness, and students drive their own learning.

The negatives listed included difficulty scheduling, the low number of students in IB courses, the fact that students have to give up courses they want including band and choir to fit in all the IB courses, and the extra costs associated with testing, fees and training staff.

"Sometimes it makes scheduling difficult, obviously," said assistant principal Stacie Moran, who also serves as the IB coordinator. "A lot of times students have to make a choice."

The district looked at five years worth of data to compare the cost of each "seat" (one spot in one course) for the IB and AP programs. A student may take multiple IB or AP courses in a single year so the "enrollment" number refers to the total number of seats and not the total number of students.

• Teacher salaries − $188,675 for IB, $122,558 for AP

• Program fees − $39,571 for IB, $11,644 for AP

• Enrollment − 268 seats for IB, 307 seats for AP

• Average class size − 13 for IB, 22 for AP

• Cost per seat − $851 for IB, $437 for AP

"It does cost money to have an IB program," Moran told the board in September. "You pay for training for teachers, you pay for training for staff, you pay for assessments and just to have the program itself and then learning management systems that go along with the program."

The high school leaders told the board it is time to figure out if the district wants to invest in growing IB by adding staffing, training and a Middle Years Program for grades 6-8 to create a feeder system into the high school.

They noted another option is to focus on the career exploration academies in place, which include capstone projects and internships, and expand AP and dual credit offerings. A dual credit course allows a student to satisfy high school graduation requirements while also earning college credit.

At the Sept. 21 meeting, two parents and one student spoke in favor of keeping the IB program.

Kevin Kropf, executive vice president of enrollment management at Drury University, has a student enrolled in the IB program and called it the "gold standard."

"In my professional opinion, IB graduates are the best prepared to not only survive in college but to thrive," he said.

He said family elected to live in Ozark, rather than a different area district, because it offered IB. He noted most of the others just offer AP and dual credit.

"In addition to being the best route to the most selective colleges, IB graduates are recognized by over 40 colleges and universities across the country including Drury and (Missouri State University) with special scholarships for IB students," he said.

Kropp acknowledged the IB program is expensive but noted districts, just like families, must make decisions.

"For over 10 years, Ozark has chosen to be exceptional by offering the International Baccalaureate program for its students," he said. "And I hope we don't allow arguments that alternatives are good enough or more economical trump the fact that we are exceptional."

More: At town hall, Ozark school board answers questions in effort to connect with parents

Devon Westpheling, a parent in Ozark, said once her child enrolled in the IB program, she noticed the difference.

"They just weren't learning what to think, they were really learning how to think. They were really exploring some of the biggest challenges that are facing humanity today," she said.

Her daughter, Catherine Westpheling, a senior in IB, said the academic work is rigorous but she also appreciates the emphasis on critical thinking and community involvement.

"The IB program prepares you more for college than any other program would," she said.

Despite the number of required IB courses, she said students are able to find time to be part of the courses and the extracurricular activities that interest them.

"A lot of our IB students are also active members in the rest of the school. They're not just active in the IB program," she said. "They do theater, they do band, they do choir."

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Ozark High questions if IB program is worth cost, given low interest