International Baccalaureate (IB)
Primary Years Programme at Beecher Hills Elementary School
Beecher Hills is an IB World School
Authorized in August 2011 to offer the Primary Years Programme
Head of School: Dr. Tiffany Franklin
For more information about our IB program and progress, please contact our PYP Coordinator: Mrs. Tiffany J. Harvey at tjharvey@atlanta.k12.ga.us
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) offers significant benefits to schools.
- High quality programmes of education, which support development of knowledgeable and inquiring students
- Professional development that supports effective educators and collaborative professional learning communities
- A worldwide network of highly respected IB World Schools, working together to share best practice
As a result of their time in the IB, students develop:
- Time management skills and a strong sense of self-motivation
- A keen interest in civic engagement
- Notable academic ability
- Strong research and writing skills
- Critical thinking abilities
- An international outlook
International Baccalaureate, an APS signature program, is designed to provide students the opportunity to explore unique areas of study in preparation for specialized academic and future career opportunities. Students participating in Signature Programs receive targeted instruction that is both rigorous and relevant. This specialized program reflects our district’s commitment to providing quality educational opportunities that will enable students to be successful in 21st century careers with a focus on preparing students for success in higher education and to be active participants in a global society.
IB Mission Statement
- The International Baccalaureate® (IB) aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
- To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
- These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
IB in APS Facts
- APS has 28 authorized IB World Schools and 37 authorized programmes (traditional and charter).
- APS has more IB World Schools than any other district in Georgia.
- Authorized in 1982, North Atlanta is the oldest Diploma Programme in the Southeast.
- Warren T. Jackson Elementary School is the first IB World School in APS to earn Cognia STEM certification and the second public school in the nation to hold dual certifications in both IB and Cognia STEM.
IB as an APS Signature Program supports the APS Mission Statement of ensuring all students are ready for college, career, and life.
From IBO.org
The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) nurtures and develops children ages 3 - 12 into caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning.
The PYP offers a transformative experience for students, teachers, and communities by providing an education that is engaging, relevant, challenging, and significant.
The framework emphasizes the central principle of agency, which underpins the three pillars of school life:
- The learner
- Learning and teaching
- The learning community
Primary Years Programme (PYP)
