WEST COVINA, CA – Students throughout the San Gabriel Valley can pursue a rigorous, globally focused education pathway from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade through a newly established International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum at West Covina Unified, a state-certified district of choice.

IB Diplomas can lead to advanced college standing, course credit, scholarships and other admissions benefits at many of the world’s most prestigious colleges and universities. In 2018, 95 percent of West Covina’s IB Diploma candidates earned the IB Diploma. All of Edgewood’s 2018 Diploma Programme candidates were accepted into four-year universities, including UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine and Cal Poly Pomona.

“We are proud to establish one of the only public-school IB Continuums in California and provide excellence in education and citizenship,” Edgewood Schools Principal Dr. Roni Maddox said. “IB cultivates engaged, lifelong learners – students are taught how to think, not what to think, and how to apply real-world contexts to their education.”

A Primary Years Programme at West Covina’s Orangewood Elementary School challenges students through an inquiry-led, transdisciplinary framework that explores local and global issues across five subjects. Students can advance to the fully inclusive Edgewood Schools, which instructs all middle and high school students through the Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme.

The Continuum also ensures students receive language extension in middle school and high school, allowing them to build on foundational language and literacy skills developed in Orangewood’s Spanish and Mandarin Dual Language Immersion programs.

In addition to earning IB Diplomas, West Covina IB students are expected to qualify for California’s Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation.

“The IB Continuum is an exciting new aspect of our comprehensive, rigorous educational offerings available at West Covina Unified,” WCUSD Board President Daniel C. Monarrez said. “We are thrilled to provide another opportunity for students to explore and develop their strengths at all levels of instruction.”

Enrollment for the 2019-20 year is now open for West Covina Unified’s IB schools. To begin the enrollment process, visit the District enrollment page.