Hauppauge High School Recognized as International Baccalaureate School

Hauppauge High School has been officially accepted as an International Baccalaureate school, with classes and a diploma program starting in the 2012-13 school year. 

Hauppauge Superintendent Patricia Sullivan-Kriss announced that Hauppauge High School received word March 12 it has been officially accepted as an IB school at Tuesday night's board of education meeting. This places makes Hauppauge one of 753 U.S. high schools to offer the IB diploma program, one of roughly 2,311 schools worldwide, according the organization's website. 

Sullivan-Kriss said she expects approximately 25 Hauppauge students to enter the IB diploma program next fall, and that number could increase up to around 40. 

The official acceptance of Hauppauge High School into the IB diploma program marks the end of the district's two-year application process which has cost more than $100,000, as last publicly reported in October 2011. 

Hauppauge school officials submitted the first half of the district's application to IB in February 2010 along with a $9,500 yearly application fee. 

But the program first came under public scrutiny when an anonymous flyer was distributed to residents homes in February 2011. It sparked controversial discussions on the IB program, the need for it, its costs and whether or not it was the right direction for Hauppauge schools. 

Residents expressed anger and outrage at feeling left in the dark about the district's application the IB program at an informational presentation in March 2011. 

""This struck a chord with me as I had to find out about this through an anonymous letter. That doesn't settle well with me or the common person," said resident Luis Velazco in March 2011. 

In response to the public outcry, school officials agreed to keep the AP program in tact and use co-seating in classrooms, teaching AP and IB curriculum in the same class. 

Board trustees expressed some concern about the IB program's costs in October 2011, recognizing the program's yearly costs of  $10,000 annual fee, $141 for each student to register with the program, $400 to $5,000 to mail out exams and teacher training, according to Assistant Superintendent Kyrie Siegel.  Yet, ultimately they approved to moved forward with the program.