Travis Science Academy celebrated an academic milestone on Tuesday with a dedication ceremony for their status as an official International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme campus.
Travis students, staff, school administrators, district administrators, leaders from Baylor Scott&White Health and community leaders including Temple Mayor Danny Dunn filled the area in front of the school for the ceremony.
It marks the completion of a three year transformation turning Travis into an International Baccalaureate campus. Over that time, new programs were introduced at Travis that focus on higher academics, community service, and foreign language education. Included are innovate, higher level science and medical classes developed in conjunction with Baylor Scott & White Health, a driving force behind turning Travis into an IB campus.
At Tuesday’s ceremony, Temple ISD Superintendent Dr. Robin Battershell spoke about the journey Travis took to becoming an official IB MYP campus. Then, Dr. Bob Pryor, President and CMO of Baylor Scott & White Health discussed the unique and innovative partnership they have with Travis Science Academy. The event closed with a performance by Travis Science Academy students, remarks from Principal Kristina Carter and the dedication and ribbon cutting led by Temple Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rod Henry, and conducted by Travis students.
As important as this event is, even more important is the impact the IB program is having on advanced academics in Temple ISD. Travis Science Academy shined in recent ratings from the Texas Education Agency. The school “Met Standard” in all categories, and was awarded three Stars of Distinction for Science, Social Studies and Reading/English Language Arts. A school receives a Star of Distinction if it’s in the top 25% when compared to peer schools across the state.
Along with that, Temple High School, with an IB program since 1991, received six Stars of Distinction, making it one of the top performing academic high schools in Texas.
This focus on advanced academics and a global education doesn’t stop with these two schools. Scott Elementary School is in the process of becoming an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme campus. Now in its third and final year of candidacy, the school will undergo a site review this fall, with certification potentially coming by next spring.
This makes Temple ISD the only school district in Central Texas, and one of only a handful in the state to offer true thread of IB education, from kindergarten through 12th grade.
One major focus of the IB program is learning a foreign language. Now, students begin in kindergarten learning German at Scott, and continue through Travis Science Academy and Temple High School. At Raye-Allen Elementary School, students will begin learning French in Kindergarten. Additionally, at Hector P. Garcia Dual Language Academy, students begin learning Spanish in kindergarten. When Raye-Allen becomes an IB school, Temple ISD will offer Spanish, German and French education K-12. This type of dedication to foreign languages K-12 is unusual in a public school setting, but the Curriculum and Instruction team at Temple ISD believes it’s important to create global learners that are positioned to compete both globally and locally upon graduation from high school.
For more information about the innovative advanced academics and IB programming at Travis Science Academy, visit their IB MYP page.