• The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

    To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

    These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

    -IB mission statement

    In July 2006, Sarah Smith Elementary became an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP). For students aged 3 to 12, the PYP focuses on:

    • the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside.
    • the total growth of the developing child, touching hearts as well as minds and encompassing social, physical, emotional and cultural needs in addition to academic development.