South Everett high school hopes to add IB program

Published 1:30 am Saturday, September 13, 2025

EVERETT — Everett Public Schools officials are working to bring new rigorous course options available for high school students district-wide.

Cascade High School is in the process of introducing an International Baccalaureate diploma program to the school, a series of classes similar to Advanced Placement courses, which give students the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school.

But the International Baccalaureate diploma program, known as IB, would also come with a number of other benefits, Cascade High School principal Michael Takayoshi said in an interview Thursday.

The voluntary program, limited to students in 11th and 12th grade, lasts two years and requires students to take six courses focusing on a variety of disciplines — from Spanish and biology to advanced mathematics and visual arts. Students who choose to take part must also undertake volunteer service and write an extended essay.

The interdisciplinary focus of the program would be a benefit for Cascade’s students, Takayoshi said.

“In many ways, I think this plays to a lot of the strengths of the Cascade community,” he said.

IB has offered its programs internationally since 1968, according to the nonprofit’s website. It’s offered in more than 4,000 schools across the world, according to Everett Public Schools.

But no schools in Everett currently offer any of the IB programs. The nearest is in Edmonds, according to IB.

If Cascade High School were to offer the program, students from anywhere in Everett would be able to attend Cascade to take part in IB, Takayoshi said. The district is also tentatively planning to offer transporation to those students to remove barriers to accessing IB courses.

“This is a student body and an area of the Puget Sound that deserves access to these programs,” Takayoshi said. “ … I think there’s a market here for students who want to differentiate themselves and are looking to find ways to do that.”

The district’s push to get IB on Cascade’s campus is still in the works. Right now, the school is undertaking a process known as “candidacy,” where school staff and teachers go through training programs and develop curriculum for the courses. The nonprofit has to approve the policy work and support systems the school implements before Cascade can offer an IB program.

If the IB approves the program, Cascade is expected to offer the courses starting in the fall of 2027. That means this year’s high school freshmen would be the first class with the opportunity to take the classes.

Everett Public Schools will host an information night about the IB program at 6 p.m. on Oct. 23 at the Cascade High School library.

“It’s rigorous,” Takayoshi said. “But I think if you look at what is meaningful from high school, a lot of the time, it’s usually something that’s not easy, but actually forces you to grow.”

Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.