Lexington Middle becomes IB World School

After four years of hard work, Lexington Middle School turned the page on its journey toward improving instruction by achieving International Baccalaureate World School status.

The casual observer walking the halls sees instruction, planning and a renewed focus on connecting lessons and concepts to real-world issues.

“Anchoring our learning in the IB framework gives us the flexibility to maintain our culture and the strong legacy of LMS, while allowing us to shift practices to meet the learning needs of today’s middle school students,” reflected Principal Gloria B. Nester.

In 2012, LMS administrators began a feasibility study comparing current practices with those of the IB Middle Years Programme. They soon declared official interest in becoming an IB World School, selected an IB coordinator, sent teachers and administrators to IB workshops, and revised curricular units and the school’s mission statement with an added focus on inspiring, preparing and empowering students.

LMS submitted an application for and was awarded candidacy in March 2014 for the 2014–15 school year. During this phase, an IB consultant visited LMS and provided feedback.

In the fall of 2016, a three-member team of IB educators conducted an intense two-day inspection by observing classrooms, interviewing students, parents, teachers, Central Services administrators and members of the Board of Trustees, and evaluating curricular units and student work samples.

Due to the hard work put in by LMS administrators, teachers and students, LMS has now joined the IB World School network.

LMS teachers benefit, too, from collaborative professional development in inquiry, concept-based curriculum, backward design/planning, performance-based assessment, proficiency scoring and score calibration as they join a network of IB World School professionals who connect online, and exchange ideas and resources to enhance students’ learning experiences.