South Salem High School has adopted the International Baccalaureate, (IB), Middle Years Programme, (MYP), curriculum for students in 9th and 10th grade. IB’s MYP is an internationally-minded and challenging framework. The aim is to expand students’ personal understanding and develop active and inquiry-based learners. South has adopted the MYP curriculum with the hope to better prepare students for South’s IB programs. The Diploma Programme (DP), Career-related Programme (CP) and Salem-Keizer’s Career Technical Education Center (CTEC).
Effect of the MYP curriculum
Day-to-day learning for South students is not affected by the implementation of the MYP program. However, there are a few changes that have been made to South’s current curriculum to meet the MYP standards. Students will be required to complete a personal research project during their sophomore year, in the Higher Education Career Pathways, (HECP), course. The Personal Project is an in-depth research project. Students explore an area of personal interest over the course of a semester. The project emphasizes the importance of service learning with the hope to impact one’s self, school and larger community. Both IB’s CP Reflective Project and DP’s Extended Essay are reflected in the Personal Project.
MYP Rubric
Students are to be graded on a rubric scale, with the scores between zero and eight, eight being the highest. Instead of being graded on the basis of showing the right answer, students will be evaluated based on evidence of understanding and analysis provided. The rubric was adopted with the hope of better evaluating student’s understanding of the material. As well as teach them skills like analysis and evidence provision.
Future of Academics at South
The implementation of the Middle Years Programme marks the beginning of a new era of academics at South Salem High School. After the Salem-Keizer School District made the decision introduce embedded honors instead, many community members were left struggling with the future of academics for 9th and 10th graders.
