Milwaukee Public Schools' Pulaski High School is one step closer to becoming the eighth MPS school to offer rigorous, college-preparatory International Baccalaureate (IB) programming.

The International Baccalaureate Organization has announced that the school has earned candidate status for the IB Middle Years Programme, which is offered to students in 9th and 10th grade.

Pulaski High School would join MPS' Rufus King International High School, Ronald Reagan College Preparatory High School and MacDowell Montessori School, which all offer IB programs for high school students. Two MPS middle schools, Rufus King International and Wedgewood Park International, and two MPS elementary schools, Academy of Accelerated Learning and Lowell Elementary School, offer IB programs.

"This is an exciting time to be at Pulaski High School," Principal Lolita Patrick said. "IB is one of the most popular high school programs in Milwaukee Public Schools and we are excited to be expanding access to it as we prepare our students for success in college, career and life."

Many Pulaski High School staff have already received IB training and more will experience that this summer.

The school's IB application comes as Pulaski High School is partnering with Carmen Schools of Science and Technology to improve academic achievement, school environment and teaching and administrative practices. Carmen, which operates two MPS charter schools, will open its new Carmen High School of Science and Technology - Southeast Campus inside the Pulaski building in the fall, bringing two great schools together on one campus.

Both schools are now accepting new 9th-grade students for fall 2016. To enroll at Carmen: Call Xiomara Ortiz at (414) 758-1044 or visit www.carmenhighschool.org/southeast-campus.html. To enroll at Pulaski: Call the school at (414) 902-8900 or visit mpsmke.com/enrollMPS.

MPS Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver and the entire MPS family congratulate members of the Pulaski High School community on their IB candidate status!

The IB expansion and partnership with Carmen is connected to MPS' Regional Development Plan, which is increasing access to strong programs, as well as the work of MPS' eight Strategic Objectives, which include "Rethinking High Schools." As part of that work, MPS has already grown the number of high school students taking college-level IB and Advanced Placement courses by 25% over the last two years.