By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BATAVIA TOWNSHIP - Amelia High School has become the fourth Tristate school to earn a prestigious designation as an International Baccalaureate School.

The school, one of the 10 small high school programs in West Clermont Local School District, was accredited this month through the International Baccalaureate Programme in Geneva, Switzerland.

It's a rigorous college-preparatory program of languages, a social science, an experimental science, mathematics and usually an arts subject. When possible, the subjects are approached from an international perspective.

Amelia High School, which has 93 students enrolled in the program, is now authorized to issue the International Baccalaureate diploma.

"This is a fantastic day for Amelia High School," said Cheryl Campbell, the school's International Baccalaureate coordinator. "It opens doors for our students as far as colleges go.''

The International Baccalaureate Organization is a nonprofit educational organization established in 1968. It offers programs for high school, middle school and elementary students.

Amelia's diploma program is aimed at students in the final two years of high school. The international organization provides detailed curriculum guidelines for each program and subject area.

More than 1,200 schools worldwide are authorized to offer the programs.

Earning the designation can be as rigorous as the program itself. Last year, Amelia was turned down for accreditation because certain requirements were not met.

An International Baccalaureate Parent Advisory Committee was then created to work with Campbell, School Director Gary Leibold and Small Schools Project Director Sue Showers.

"It's been a long process; but, boy, is it worth it when you get that letter in your hand," Campbell said.

Amelia is the ninth high school in Ohio to have an accredited International Baccalaureate program.

The other three area programs are at Holmes High School in Covington, Princeton High School in Sharonville and Withrow International School in Hyde Park.

Open house

A reception and open house will be held 6:30 p.m. March 3 at the Amelia High School Multipurpose Room, 1351 Clough Pike, Batavia Township.

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E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com

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This article appeared in some editions of Saturday's Enquirer.