Rye High School’s newest college-level option is off to a strong start, with 171 students enrolling in International Baccalaureate courses during the program’s first year.

The IB program launched in the 2025-26 school year after the district completed a two-year approval process to become an authorized IB World School. It now joins Advanced Placement courses and The Academy as one of the school’s three advanced academic pathways.

Six students took on the full IB Diploma Program, a two-year track that includes six subjects, a research essay, community service and a course focused on critical thinking and philosophy.

Unlike AP courses, which typically run for one year and end with a standardized exam, IB courses emphasize deeper study, global perspectives and open-ended assessments. IB Coordinator Anthony Frabizzio said the format allows students to spend more time exploring topics instead of rushing through material.

The most popular course so far has been IB Business Management, which filled four sections in its first year.

Students told the Board of Education they appreciated the program’s focus on real-world applications and deeper learning, while district leaders stressed that AP courses will remain available for students who prefer that format.

Rye’s IB offerings will expand next school year with the addition of Environmental Systems and Societies, bringing the total number of IB courses to 13.