Denver, CO- Denver Public Schools (DPS) is pleased to announce that S. Arthur Henry Middle School and John F. Kennedy High School have been accepted as partners in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP), effective August 17 th, 2007. The schools have partnered to offer the MYP to students in grades 6 through 10. They are now one of only 510 such programs across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Henry and Kennedy are the only MYP authorized schools in DPS with MYP and one in a few MYP programs offered in the Metro area.

"This is a great opportunity for our students and the southwest community," said Michelle Moss, DPS Board of Education member. "Very few students in the state, country and even world benefit from this unique opportunity."

It takes two years as an applicant school candidate and a total of three years to get authorized. The MYP offers study in eight specific content areas and is directly supportive of The Denver Plan and Colorado State standards. Students who graduate with an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in addition to the DPS diploma receive 24 hours of college credit from any state funded college or university in the State of Colorado. John F. Kennedy High School is anticipating authorization of the Diploma program this year and is currently in candidate status.

"This dream was community and staff driven," said Wendy Lanier, Henry Middle School principal. "Being authorized to offer the MYP is truly an honor because the program is a premier course of study for all students. It prepares students for college and future careers."

The International Baccalaureate offers programs that cover students from Kindergarten through 12 th grade. In the future, students could begin their education at Sabin Elementary School and complete the Primary Years Program (PYP), then enter S. Arthur Henry Middle School and begin the MYP, which is completed at John F. Kennedy High School, allowing them to take the Diploma Program in their last two years of high school.

"We will have the only ECE through 12 th grade feeder pattern family of IB schools in DPS," said Jeannie Peppel, Kennedy High School principal. Kennedy High School will extend the MYP courses to all incoming freshmen and sophomores beginning the 2008-2009 academic year.

For more information, contact the Communications Office at 720-423-3414.