Cooper High to phase out IB and expand AP; middle schools to move to six‑period day

Becky Bordier, senior director of teaching and learning, and Cooper High principal Shani Smith told the board the district will phase out International Baccalaureate (IB) at Cooper and expand Advanced Placement (AP) offerings over two years so students can complete pathways they started.

"One of our goals is to ensure that all students have access to rigorous coursework that prepares them for postsecondary success while transitioning from IB programming," Principal Shani Smith said. The administration said current juniors who need IB courses to complete diplomas will be able to finish the sequence next year; staff identified roughly 10 IB courses to continue for seniors and about a dozen AP courses to be added across the rollout, with a fuller AP catalog expected by the 2027–28 school year. Teachers will require AP professional‑development and the district will estimate curricular and material costs after registration patterns are known.

Separately, middle‑school leaders presented a district‑wide move from a seven‑period day to a six‑period day to increase core instructional minutes, reduce transitions and provide a consistent schedule across Sandburg and Plymouth middle schools. Counselors have coordinated a common registration form and will visit elementary schools to present course choices; student selections in February will determine which electives the district can run next year.

Next steps: administration will finalize course lists, confirm professional development plans and publish registration materials; staff said they will return with materials showing how the phased IB→AP transition and the 6‑period schedule will affect course offerings by grade.