Date: November 18, 2004
Contact: Irene Cromer
703-791-8720

GAR-FIELD AND STONEWALL HIGH SCHOOLS RANK 2ND AND 4TH IN VA

Gar-Field Senior High School in Woodbridge is ranked fifteenth out of 470 schools in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean countries and twenty-fourth out of 974 schools worldwide giving the most International Baccalaureate examinations, according to the International Baccalaureate Organization’s “Statistical Bulletin for May 2004,” which is sent to all IB coordinators in October of the examination year.

Stonewall Jackson High School, which began its International Baccalaureate Programme in 1993, is ranked twenty-first in the U.S. and thirty-third in the world for the number of examinations given. Gar-Field and Stonewall rank second and fourth in Virginia, respectively, in this category.

Stonewall ranked even higher in terms of the number of students taking IB exams. Thirty-four percent of Stonewall’s 2,354 students participate in the IB Programme. “I am particularly pleased with the number of students from Stonewall who sat for IB exams in the last session,” said Connie Giorgio, coordinator of the IB Programme at Stonewall. “Stonewall ranked number two in Virginia, number eight in the U.S., and number nine in the world in the number of candidates who took IB exams,” she said. Students often take more than one exam.

“Our goal is that as many students as possible experience rigorous curriculum. It is apparent that we are achieving our goal with the increase in the number of students who sit for IB exams,” said David Huckestein, principal of Stonewall Jackson High School.

Gar-Field Senior High School implemented its International Baccalaurate (IB) Programme in September 1999. Twenty-six percent of Gar-Field High School’s 2,564 students are involved in the IB Programme, said Brian Bassett, coordinator.

The diploma pass rate for Gar-Field in 2004 was 89% and for Stonewall Jackson it was 83%, exceeding the Virginia exam pass rate of 81% and the U.S. pass rate of 76%.

“The fact that 84% of our students (compared to 79% in Virginia and 81% nationally) earned a 4 or higher speaks to the rigor of our program and the commitment from our students and teachers,” said Bassett.

“The number of IB exams taken at Gar-Field and the number of eleventh and twelfth graders that are taking them is consistent with our No Child Left Behind initiatives and Gar-Field’s philosophy to challenge all students,” said Roger Dallek, Principal of Gar-Field High School.

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