Families Can Explore International Baccalaureate and Other High School Options Wednesday

Families in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre considering Pasadena Unified School District high schools can learn about International Baccalaureate courses and other academic pathways during a virtual information session Wednesday, Oct. 21, organized by Pasadena Education Network.

The program, “High School Options in PUSD,” will run from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom. It is intended primarily for families of eighth-grade students preparing to enter high school and will complement school tours already underway across the district.

According to Pasadena Education Network, the session will explain the district’s four high schools, eight college and career academies, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs, and graduation requirements. Families will receive an overview of the available options and guidance for comparing school offerings.

Participants may submit questions through the registration form. Organizers say questions that cannot be answered during the presentation may be referred to school tours or individuals familiar with the programs.

One of the academic options is the International Baccalaureate program, offered by Pasadena Unified at Willard Elementary School and Blair Middle and High School.

At Blair, all students in grades six through 10 participate in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, which emphasizes inquiry, reflection, interdisciplinary learning and connections between classroom subjects and real-world issues.

Students in grades 11 and 12 may pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, take individual IB courses or participate in the Career-related Programme through Blair’s Health Careers Academy.

The full diploma pathway includes coursework across six subject groups, independent research, a Theory of Knowledge component and activities involving creativity, physical activity and service. Blair states that students must complete prerequisite coursework before entering IB diploma classes.

Awareness of these opportunities is also addressed by California law. Assembly Bill 1796, which took effect Jan. 1, 2025, requires school districts and other local educational agencies to notify parents or guardians of students entering grades seven through 12 about any International Baccalaureate or dual-enrollment courses they offer.

The information session coincides with Pasadena Unified’s application period for sibling and continuing-program priority enrollment for the 2027-28 school year. That application window opened Tuesday, Oct. 20, and continues through Nov. 10.

Continuing-program priority includes eligible students moving into sixth or ninth grade who wish to remain in designated programs, including International Baccalaureate.

Families interested in Blair can also attend a campus tour Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at 1201 S. Marengo Ave. The school provides tour registration information through its website.

NEED TO KNOW: Pasadena Education Network’s “High School Options in PUSD” presentation takes place Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom. Registration is available through PEN’s event page. Registered participants will receive a calendar invitation containing the Zoom link.