Coastal Middle School is now officially an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. On July 29, 2010 the school became one of 13 IB Middle Years Programme World Schools in Georgia and one of only 366 nationwide, authorized to offer the IBMY Programme designed for ages 11-16. Coastal Middle School in partnership with Johnson High School will offer the five year programme. Years 1, 2 and 3 (Grades 6, 7 and 8) are offered at Coastal Middle School and Years 4 and 5 (Grades 9 and 10) are offered at Johnson High School. “As an IB Middle Years Programme school, Coastal Middle will provide an internationally respected approach to teaching and learning that along with the state performance standards will prepare students for challenging learning experiences now and in their futures,” said Kerry Coursey, Principal of Coastal Middle School.

“The MYP curricular framework educates the whole child and provides a comprehensive, inquirybased approach to teaching and learning. While incorporating local, state, and national curriculum requirements as well as the arts and a second language, the MYP reaches beyond minimum standards to provide a rich, rigorous education of habit and mind,” states Charles Todd, District IB Coordinator.

The IB programmes are recognized globally as the most rigorous academic program that a student can undertake. Therefore, becoming an IB World School is a very intensive process that takes at least two years to complete.

The International Baccalaureate Organization has very rigorous standards and pedagogical methodologies to which schools must conform.

The faculties of Coastal and Johnson have undergone extensive training and worked very hard to prepare their schools and are to be congratulated for their efforts.