Supertest: How the International Baccalaureate Can Strengthen Our Schools

by Jay Mathews, Ian Hill

With increasing urgency, parents, educators, politicians, and businesspeople are What can be done to raise American public schools to world-class standards? Supertest tells the story of the IB and its introduction to a steadily increasing number of American schools. The IB (International Baccalaureate) is a high school program recognized throughout the world. Students all over the world take the IB to prepare for the challenges of college. The IB makes demands on students and teachers. At one time the IB was considered most suitable for gifted students of elite private schools; it's now acknowledged that the rigorous IB program works especially well in "problem" public schools, many of which have witnessed truly remarkable results following their adoption of the IB.

Supertest interweaves the story of one American school that adopted the IB — Mount Vernon High School — with the story of the IB itself, how it was conceived, created, and developed.

Genres: Education

200 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2005

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to the IB program — its creation, history, and how it transformed schools in Virginia. Sometimes I felt like a small amount of material was stretched to make a book.

[N.J. Danatangelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was much better than I expected, being both incredibly detailed and rather informative regarding the history of IB implementation within a US context. My only gripe was how out of date this book was, being written almost two decades ago.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh work books - I hate you but I feel I must read you. This was all about the IB program and how it is superior to the AP program, which I knew before I read it. The fun part of the book was trying to answer some of the IB questions!

[Jeanne Berrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in preparation for International Baccalaureate Programme, Edgewood High School