Yates High School, an Achieve 180 campus, has raised the bar even higher for the district’s turnaround program, becoming the district’s newest International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. 

“Becoming an IB campus is a huge accomplishment for an Achieve 180 campus,” Achieve 180 Director Brandi Gosnay said. “Yates has shown us that an underperforming and underserved campus has the potential to shift and provide opportunities for students that they deserve.” 

As the district’s fifth high school campus to receive official authorization to offer the Diploma Programme, Yates will now offer courses in a broad base of disciplines such as languages, mathematics, sciences, humanities, arts, physical education, and technology. 

“For an Achieve 180 campus to reach the IB World school status, this new milestone continues to prove that when administration and campuses partner together for our most critical campuses, we have the capabilities to quickly transform academic outcomes,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. 

Achieving IB authorization is a demanding and lengthy process during which schools must align their curriculum to IB standards and train all teachers in the IB philosophy. The IB diploma, which reflects a rigorous education, allows students to enter Texas public universities with 24 credit hours if they score four or higher on their IB exams 

“Yates HS becoming an IB campus will enhance the academic progress that students are already making and push them to reach their full potential academically with endless opportunities,” Gosnay said. 

Currently, Achieve 180 office has six other campuses pursuing IB authorization to mobilize opportunities for students that attend Achieve 180 schools and feeder patterns. The following campuses moving forward with the IB process are: Mading and Woodson elementary schools, Cullen and Henry middle schools, as well as Worthing and Wisdom high schools. 

Yates is now accepting students via International Baccalaureate choice program transfers. Applications are due February 29 and are available online at ChooseHISD.com, and in paper form at school campuses or at HISD’s Office of School Choice located at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 West 18th St., 77092.  

For assistance or more information, parents and students may visit the Office of School Choice or call 713-556-6784.