Palmer High School International Baccalaureate program accepting applications

The Class of 2026 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program at Palmer High School is currently accepting applications for the program. The IB is a two-year academic program that offers students the opportunity to obtain an international/national diploma in addition to their Matanuska Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) high school diploma.

Palmer High School has the distinction of being home to the oldest IB Program in the state of Alaska, and the only such program in the MSBSD. IB classes are taken during a student's junior and senior year, offering students an opportunity to grow and accelerate academic skills and potentially earn college credit. IB Diploma Candidates follow a rigorous academic pathway across six different subjects while also engaging in a variety of extracurricular activities and objectives, and allowing students to participate and enjoy a traditional high school experience.

The program is academically challenging; along with learning subject area content, students develop a subject specific investigation of their choice within each class, allowing them to apply skills and knowledge to an issue or topic of personal interest and relevance. The classes reward curiosity, creativity, and initiative and IB can be customized to fit individual student goals and interests.

The IB program is open to current 10th grade students, and offers rigorous, holistic course study that does more than prepare students for the rigor of college education, but also grows their skills in critical thinking and thinking across subjects.

Past IB students have used their diplomas to earn college credit, qualify for scholarships, gain a competitive edge in competitive college edge by learning skills that correspond to higher success rates not only in college, but the work force.

Palmer HS will be hosting an IB Night that includes both our IB Art Show and an informational presentation that will talk about the details and what students can expect in the program. The event will be held at Palmer High School following the IB Art Show on April 12th at 6:00 pm.

To learn more about the IB Program and the opportunities within the program, including college credit, please visit www.matsuk12.us/Page/13093.

Current 10th grade students who are interested in the full IB Diploma can apply at www.docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSc8K2XM.../viewform...

The application deadline is April 26th.