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Schools

Robinson to add elite program to menu

As the International Baccalaureate program grows, so will the high school's prestige, its principal believes.

By ELISABETH DYER
Published January 6, 2006

Prospects are better for students hoping to score a spot next year in the county's elite International Baccalaureate program. Robinson High School will add IB to its curriculum in August, accepting 145 ninth-graders who meet qualifications and the Jan. 23 deadline for applying.

Robinson will take IB students who live south of Kennedy Boulevard and some in southern Hillsborough County.

Parents who already applied for next year can expect a letter telling them which school their child would attend. Students attending Hillsborough or King high schools will not move, and those with siblings in an existing program may be allowed to attend the same school.

Robinson principal Laura Zavatkay imagines the school's prestige will increase as the program grows also. Robinson earned a C from the state this year, up from a D last year.

"I can see us in the top 100 high schools in the nation," said Zavatkay, referring to Newsweek magazine's annual ranking of schools with the most advanced placement and IB exams taken.

With about 1,200 students, Robinson is the district's smallest high school. But once the school's IB program expands one grade per year, to a maximum of 580 ninth- through 12th-graders, officials will contemplate building more space for the students.

Each year, 700 to 900 students apply to the district's IB program, said Susan King, supervisor of magnet schools and programs. In the past, less than half got in.

"We've been looking at options to enlarge the program for quite a while," she said. "An IB program is good for the whole school. It's good for all students to be around those who are highly motivated academically."

The district will cover the start-up costs, such as specialized training for teachers and an assistant principal to oversee the program.

The IB program began in 1968 in Geneva as a way to establish a common curriculum and university credentials for high school students moving from one country to another.

The rigorous program, which includes 200 hours of creative projects, activities and community service, is taught in 119 countries.

Hillsborough High, the county's first IB program, opened in 1990 followed by King High in 1993. Florida, with 40 programs, is second among U.S. states, behind California.

To obtain an IB application, call 272-4818.

- Elisabeth Dyer can be reached at edyer@sptimes.com or 813 226-3321.

[Last modified January 5, 2006, 08:50:08]