Largo High Gains IB Certification

It's official: Largo High School has earned its International Baccalaureate program certification.

The official authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization places the high school in an elite group in Pinellas County. It is the third high school to earn the designation.

The other two are Palm Harbor University High School and St. Petersburg High School.

Monday's announcement culminates a three-year planning and review process for high school leaders, according to the Pinellas County School District.

“I congratulate and thank the teachers, students, staff and administrators of Largo High School for their commitment to building the county’s newest IB program,” said Michael A. Grego, superintendent for Pinellas County Schools, in a media release posted on the district's Newsroom blog.

“Your dedication and hard work will have long-lasting benefits for students today and in the future.”

 The first "official" IB class — the freshman class of 2013-14 — will join students already enrolled in the program as the school awaited certification, officials said. About 100 students are in the IB program now.

“Our first two classes took a chance, and we thank them for having faith in what we were trying to do,” said Brad Finkbiner, Largo High School principal, in the release.

The school noted that the IB program is among two distinguished programs at the school. The other is the Exploring Careers & Education in Leadership (ExCel) program.

 What is the IB program?

According to a press release: The International Baccalaureate Organization, based in New York City, offers several programs for students aged 3 to 19 to help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world. There are more than 1 million IB students at 3,566 schools in 145 countries.

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