Chicago Public Schools Celebrate the International Baccalaureate Diploma and Career-related Programmes

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CHICAGO - Earlier today, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) celebrated continued growth and success in its International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and Career-related Programmes during an event at Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School (BOYCP), where nearly 60 percent of the Class of 2025 earned college credit for their high school coursework. The celebration highlights CPS' commitment to providing rigorous, globally-recognized academic opportunities that prepare students for college, career, and a fulfilling life in an interconnected world.

"International Baccalaureate programmes emphasize developing critical thinking, research, and communication skills," said Dr. Macquline King, Interim CEO/Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools. "We take pride in our ability to prepare students for both college and life by fostering global awareness and a wide range of valuable skills through this program."

Advancing Success: Together We Rise 2029
As part of Success 2029: Together We Rise, the District's five-year strategic plan, CPS has set a goal to increase the percentage of high school graduates earning college course credits and career credentials from 49 percent in 2024 to 70 percent by 2029.

In 2025, the District moved closer to that goal with 56.3 percent of graduates earning at least one credential through Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment courses, International Baccalaureate Programmes (IB), the State Seal of Biliteracy, Career and Technical Education (CTE), completing an internship, and Junior ROTC programming. In addition to credential attainment, CPS also monitors graduates' college enrollment, college persistence rate, and scholarships earned as key indicators of student success.

The Class of 2025 achieved several historic milestones:
- 211 graduating seniors earned both a high school diploma and an associate degree.
- More than 1,000 graduates completed 15 or more transferable college credits - the equivalent of a full semester of college.
- More than 6,600 students earned over 66,000 early college credits, generating an estimated $10 million in tuition savings for CPS families, the highest in District history.

These achievements reflect a broader momentum highlighted across a series of CPS events this fall. Together, early college and career programs - including IB, AP, dual credit, dual enrollment, CTE, and JROTC - create flexible, high-quality pathways that meet the needs of a diverse student body. Whether students pursue a full diploma programme, explore specialized coursework, or accumulate transferable credits, these opportunities help them build confidence, reduce college costs, and prepare for success after high school.

IB Programme Empowers CPS Students
Students who earn a score of four or higher on an IB exam meet the requirements for many colleges and universities to award college credit for these high school courses. The number of credits awarded varies by institution and subject area; however, for students remaining in Illinois for their studies, state law guarantees credit for IB scores of four or higher at all public colleges and universities, accelerating pathways to graduation. In the spring, over 1,600 students sat for IB exams with nearly 8,200 exams reaching this benchmark, representing more than $4M in potential tuition savings for CPS families.

CPS offers three IB programs for students in their junior and senior years:
IB Diploma Programme (DP): A comprehensive, internationally-recognized curriculum spanning six subject-area courses plus core components (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, CAS)

IB Career-related Programme (CP): A specialized program that pairs IB coursework with a defined career pathway and applied learning experiences.
IB Courses: Individual IB classes that allow students to earn college credit with qualifying scores, without enrolling in the full DP or CP.

Across the District, students may access 57 IB Diploma courses across six subject groups, including science, mathematics, languages, history, the arts, and social sciences. Students completing the IB Diploma or Career-related Programme may qualify for additional university credits, advanced standing, and scholarship opportunities worldwide.

School Spotlight: Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School
Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School exemplifies how rigorous IB programming can thrive in a neighborhood school. From freshman year through the DP and CP pathways, students engage in world-class instruction, service learning, and globally focused coursework.

The robust selection of courses at BOYCP allows students to design an academic pathway that reflects their individual interests while engaging in college-level work. Participants also have the opportunity to earn substantial college credit, strengthening their preparation for postsecondary studies.
This celebration marks the third of six media events highlighting the District's progress towards increasing the percentage of students earning at least one early college or career credential from 49 percent in 2024 to 70 percent by 2029.

"The IB programmes at Back of the Yards College Prep are unique in that nearly 80 percent of our juniors and seniors take IB classes," said BOYCP Principal Barbara Manjarrez. "We also extend these opportunities to our freshmen and sophomores, providing them with more opportunities to build college-level skills in critical thinking, time management, and research, ensuring they are well prepared to succeed after graduation."

Last year, 57 percent of the Class of 2025 at BOYCP scored four or higher on at least one IB exam. Collectively, they earned over 600 college credits, which could potentially save them an estimated $700,000 in college expenses. Additionally, approximately 74 percent of the 2025-26 senior class is enrolled in at least one DP course, and 78 percent of the junior class is currently taking at least one of these college-level classes.

"The IB program helped me feel confident in my ability to excel in my courses at Northwestern and to keep up with the rigor alongside peers who had access to more resources," said José Muñiz, a BOYCP Class of 2020 graduate. "Now, in my career as a test engineer, the skills I developed in IB continue to support me even five years after completing the program. As an engineer, I write detailed reports, maintain the discipline to complete complex projects, and collaborate effectively with my colleagues, all of which began with the foundation IB provided."

Access and Equity
Through its partnership with Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS), CPS uses student experience surveys and targeted outreach to identify students with interest and readiness in taking advanced coursework who might otherwise miss out on IB opportunities. Counselors and trusted adults collaborate with students and families to support their transition into advanced coursework.
Focusing on expanded access, students at 17 out of 20 high schools with the IB MYP now have open access to the program, and high schools are expanding enrollment to IB Diploma courses through the 'IB for All' initiative with the IB Organization.

A National and Global Leader
CPS serves more than 29,000 IB students from kindergarten to Grade 12 across 64 schools, offering the full continuum of IB Programmes: Primary Years, Middle Years, DP, and CP. With 112 authorized IB programs, CPS is the largest network of IB schools in North America.

"We frequently point to Chicago Public Schools as a model of how to create impactful schools." Said Dr. David Weiss, Head of IB World Schools, U.S. Public Schools. "CPS has maintained a sustained and valued partnership with the International Baccalaureate, delivering high-quality educational experiences to students across the city through dedicated educators and school leaders."