About IB@CHS
Coeur d’Alene High School was approved as an International Baccalaureate World School in the spring of 2006, receiving authorization from the Director General in Geneva, Switzerland. Not only did that day culminate many years of research, training and planning, it also elevated our school to the highest level possible in our state, recognized as providing one of the most challenging, respected and holistic curricula on our planet.
The planning for our application as an International Baccalaureate World School started in the fall of 1998, when Assistant Principal Warren Olson invited two guests from Mira Loma, California’s International Baccalaureate school to address our staff during the statewide in-service. A program since the 1980’s, Mira Loma is considered to be one of the most inclusive in California and has over 100 diploma candidates.
Since that initial meeting, 14 of our staff members, concerned community members, our administration and central officers have worked to create a program of great pride, identifying the need for a diverse, but rigorous course of study that, unlike the previous AP program, would tie together into a cohesive learning program. With initial funding received as part of a supplemental levy passed in 2005, the program pursued the application to become a World School.
One of the first assignments of then Advanced Learning Program Coordinator, Jim Facciano, was the hiring of the first International Baccalaureate coordinator at our school. After applications were accepted, Coeur d’Alene High School graduate and Spanish teacher Mike Nelson was chosen to lead the developing program and ultimately write the application for our school.
After submission of the application and requested addenda, Coeur d’Alene High School had its site visitation in November of 2005. A team of three from all around our continent congregated at our school for meetings with administrators, staff, coordinators and district personnel to make sure that the information submitted was valid and that our plan of implementation was acceptable.
Coeur d’Alene High School will offer our first classes in the International Baccalaureate program in the fall of 2006. We are excited to be given the opportunity to be an International Baccalaureate World School and hope that our program brings a great source of pride to our faculty, students and community.
