Chicago’s Use of the International Baccalaureate: An Education Success Story That Didn’t Travel
What they found is striking: the CPS students who completed all four years of the IB program were 40% more likely to attend a four-year college, 50% more likely to attend a selective four-year college, and significantly more likely to persist in college than their matched peers outside the program. The program influenced not only their academic success but also their self-regard and confidence; in-depth interviews showed a strong academic orientation and high sense of self-efficacy. There were no negative results for the students involved, even for those who began the program in 9th grade but did not complete the program.