Austin Academy, a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme, is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. 

Fall 2021

Becoming an Authorized MYP school is a multi-year process. We will begin implementation of the program in the fall of 2021. 

The Middle Years Programme is for ALL students.

The MYP: 

• Addresses holistically students' intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being. 
• Provides students opportunities to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need in order to manage complexity and take responsible action for the future. 
• Requires the study of at least two languages (English/language arts and a foreign language) to support students in understanding their own cultures and those of others.
• Empowers students to participate in service within the community.
• Ensures breadth and depth of understanding through study in eight subject groups:
  • design
  • fine arts
  • individuals and societies
  • language acquisition
  • language and literature
  • mathematics
  • physical and health education
  • sciences

As part of the Middle Years Programme, we have four key policies designed to support your child's academic and personal growth:

1. Academic Honesty Policy: Ensuring integrity in all academic pursuits, this policy fosters a culture of honesty and responsibility, essential for lifelong learning.

2. Assessment Policy: By providing clarity on assessment expectations and practices, this policy promotes fairness and transparency, empowering students to strive for excellence.

3. Inclusion Policy: Embracing diversity and individual needs, this policy ensures that every student receives equitable access to opportunities, resources, and support.

4. Language Policy: Recognizing the importance of language development, this policy promotes multilingualism and cultural awareness, enriching students' global perspectives.

IB Matters is a podcast for parents, students, and teachers that explore all things IB. To further your understanding of the MYP, listen to the episode "Introducing the IB Programmes: The Middle Years Programme."

IB MATTERS

Research 

Find out more about the research behind the MYP framework and advantages for students at ibo.org/research. 

The Middle Years Programme participants will make excellent candidates for any of Garland ISD's high school programs. 

The MYP is an inclusive 6th through 10th grade framework. Students who wish to continue to the 9th and 10th grade portion of the Middle Years Programme may choose to attend Garland High School. GHS is also home of the district's IB Diploma Programme (IB's program for grades 11 and 12). 

Our counselors can help provide more information on the array of high school opportunities Garland ISD has to offer. 

The MYP is an inclusive program intended to reach all students who attend Austin Academy. All classrooms at Austin will be part of the IB Middle Years Programme.

The content of the curriculum will remain the same. Teachers will continue to address the Texas state standards (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS). The MYP is a framework for how the teacher delivers these content standards to students. The International Baccalaureate Organization has spent twenty-five years developing a research-based set of best practices to ensure critical thinking in the classroom.

In the MYP classroom, students will experience:

• More concept-based learning, or learning that is driven by big ideas or universal themes. 
• Increased connectoin among courses. 
• A global  understanding of the way in which the content being taught relates to and  affects our world. 
• Instructional time embedded with a focus on life skills such as communication, collaboration, and organization to prepare students for high school and beyond. 

At Austin, we are committed to the philosophy that increasing rigor does not mean more work but rather delving deeper to gain a greater and lasting grasp of the content.

The MYP will give your student an opportunity to both do work that facilitates the retention of information and gain a deeper understanding of the content.

The International Baccalaureate organization has three programs associated with elementary, middle, and high school:

• Primary Years Programme (PYP): Pre-K through 5th grade.
• Middle Years Programme (MYP): 6th through 8th grade (Austin), 9th through 10th grade (Garland HS)
• Diploma Programme (DP): 11th through 12 grade.

Locally, many people may think of IB as a high school program because Garland High School has had its Diploma Programme (DP) since 1989. The DP serves 11th and 12th-grade students.

While both programs are centered around the learner profile, there are some fundamental differences in the way they are structured. The Diploma Programme, which is for 11th and 12th graders, has a prescribed syllabus of coursework. The International Baccalaureate determines much of the content of the curriculum for the high school Diploma Programme.

In contrast, the MYP is a framework for how the teacher delivers the information to students. Teachers will still be guided by TEKS and their own expertise to develop the content of the course. Lastly, the Middle Years Programme is intended for all students, whereas the Diploma Programme requires specific qualifications for entry.

Students who participate in the Middle Years Programme will make excellent candidates for any of Garland ISD’s high school programs. The MYP is designed to prepare students for rigorous coursework in high school, no matter what program they choose to pursue.

Many parents naturally have questions about whether their child should choose Advanced Placement, dual credit, or the IB Diploma Programme. This is important to consider when preparing for high school.

You and your child will make this decision based on what best fits his/her interests, goals, and style of learning. We encourage parents and students to research and ask questions. When it is time to examine this decision in your student’s 8th-grade year, our counselors offer a great deal of help by providing information on the array of programs available in GISD.