Curriculum
Académie Lafayette began its International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP) for middle school students in fall 2013. Our inaugural class (2020–21) will continue with IB MYP, as the programme extends to the first two years of high school.
Académie Lafayette is a candidate school * for the Diploma Programme (DP). Read more under International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
The culmination of the IB curriculum is the exams taken at the conclusion of each IB class, typically at the end of a student’s senior year. Many colleges recognize certain score thresholds as college credit or course equivalency.
* Only schools authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) can offer any of its academic programmes. Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.
Courses Offered
Below are courses offered within the eight core disciplines in the IB MYP. To learn more about IB MYP and why it’s a good fit for Académie Lafayette, click the link on the menu at right.
Group One — Language & Literature
English Language Arts
Group Two — Language Acquisition
French
Mandarin
Spanish
Group Three — Individuals & Society
World History
American History
Personal Finance
Group Four — Sciences
Chemistry
Biology
Group Five — Mathematics
Algebra I
Algebra II
Geometry
Group Six — The Arts
Visual Arts
Music Performance
Group Seven — Physical Education
Physical Education
Health
Group Eight — Design & Electives
Design: Introduction to Engineering
Design: Convergence Journalism
Elective: Academic Extension
Community Service
In keeping with a commitment to service and the education of the whole person, ALIHS requires 25 hours per year of community service. In 10th grade, IB MYP expects students to complete a personal project (learn more through the IB MYP page).
During each student’s first year at ALIHS, staff and visiting speakers will discuss the importance and value of community service and will provide information on a variety of community service projects. Students are expected to seek a variety of service programs during their first year and then settle on a community service project for the remainder of their time at ALIHS.
Advisory and community focus
A weekly advisory and community focus program ensures that students have an adult available for academic counsel during their high school career and are provided with opportunities for all-school assemblies, as well as community service and special projects. This time is intended to be a casual learning experience when the school community meets to make connections with the Greater Kansas City community. Activities may include outside speakers, performers, and field trips.
All students will complete 100 hours of community service for graduation: 150 hours of Creativity, Action, Service (CAS), with 50 of those hours being service.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Armour campus (located at 201 E Armour Boulevard) will house the Académie Lafayette International High School (ALIHS). The Armour building can hold up to 900 students. Phase 3 of our expansion plan includes building a gym and auditorium at the Armour campus at the site of the current basketball courts.
Yes!
Yes, there is enough space to accommodate CWCKC and ALIHS for the next two years. Beginning in 2022, CWCKC will relocate pursuant to the terms of its lease agreement with AL.
We hope to start with a minimum of 30 students, but there is space for any outgoing 8th grade student to attend.
The 2019–20 middle school student population was 270, broken down as follows between grades:
- 6th grade: 95 students
- 7th grade: 90 students
- 8th grade: 85 students
When at full capacity, we anticipate a 12th grade graduating class of 120. All students currently enrolled in Académie Lafayette will automatically qualify to attend ALIHS.
Graduating 8th graders from AL will automatically qualify to attend ALIHS. No additional application is necessary, but we do ask parents to indicate their plans for their students to attend ALIHS so we can plan accordingly and have sufficient time to hire teachers. (We use a similar intent-to-return process as is currently used each year.)
As required by charter law, when the school is open to the community, students will be accepted by lottery for open slots available.
Yes, however, they will have to apply like any other non-AL students and go through a lottery if there are more applications than seats available. Standard admissions rules apply regarding sibling preference.
No, ALIHS is an extension of our current K–8 program. As such, it is operated under the Académie Lafayette charter sponsored by UCM. Missouri Charter School laws prohibit two charter schools or any other public schools to “merge” or create partnerships for a high school.
Académie Lafayette began its International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP) for middle school students in fall 2013. IB MYP at the high school in grades 9–10 will provide students will the skills necessary to be successful in their college preparatory coursework in grades 11–12.
No, ALIHS is a college preparatory, IB and global studies programme with a continued emphasis on learning global languages. While ALIHS will not be immersion, the administration is currently in conversation with UMKC to give students the option to earn college credit for French by exam after 8th grade. We will continue to build out advanced language options for students to continue their language development in French, Spanish, and Mandarin.
Yes, Spanish and Mandarin electives will be offered.
The accreditation process begins in fall at the start of the 2020–21 school year and should be fully accredited by year four (the 2023–24 school year).
Yes. Click here to access the Armour Library catalog.
How to convert your IB scores into traditional grades