Riverstone International School

Riverstone International School
Location
5521 Warm Springs Ave. Boise, Idaho
United States
Information
Type Private
Head of school Bob Carigan
Faculty 50
Grades P-12
Enrollment 340
Color(s) Navy Blue, Light blue
Mascot Otter
Website Riverstone International School

Riverstone International School is a private, independent school for co-ed students in preschool through high school in Boise, Idaho. It was the first International Baccalaureate World School in Idaho and is one of a small number of schools in the United States to offer all three IB programmes, the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP).[1] The Five Pillars of Academic Excellence, Community and Service, Leadership by Example, International Understanding, and Outdoor Education form the basis for the School's curriculum. Students raft the Main Payette River and Main Salmon River and backpack through the White Cloud and Sawtooth Mountains.

Riverstone offers both day student and boarding student opportunities. Approximately 30% of the high school students are international students representing countries such as Afghanistan, China, Ethiopia, France, Italy, Korea, Russia and Vietnam. The School's residential facility is called, "Riverstone House."

Riverstone offers Malone Scholarships and tuition assistance. Over 46 countries are represented in its community of students, parents, and staff.

Riverstone International School is a not-for-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Code Classification 501(c)(3).

Accreditation and Memberships

Rverstone International School is authorized or accredited by the following organizations:

History

Riverstone International School was established in 1997 under the name Hidden Springs Community School. Located just north of Boise, Idaho, the school opened its doors with 57 students enrolled in kindergarten through eighth grade. In 1998, enrollment in the Elementary School increased and the beginnings of the High School, grade nine, was established. In 2000, the school moved from Dry Creek Valley (Idaho) to its current location in southeast Boise and changed its name to RiverStone Community School.

By the fall of 2001 enrollment had increased to 130 and an additional building was added. The school was accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (previously the "Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and Universities (NASCU)") and the State of Idaho. In that same year the School approached the International Baccalaureate (IB) to begin the rigorous authorization process[3] that would permit the School to offer the IB Diploma Programme. In the 2002-2003 school year, grade ten was added and enrollment reached 170. The School's first international exchange students arrived in 2002. These students came from Russia, Thailand, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Chile, and Colombia. In 2003, the School's enrollment increased to 235 students, including nineteen international students. Eleventh grade was added, additional property was purchased adjacent to the existing plot and the School broke ground on a new elementary school.[4]

Grade twelve was added in 2004 and the IB Diploma Programme was authorized for grades eleven and twelve.[5] In 2005, the School became an accredited member of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools. The School changed its name to Riverstone International School in 2006. In 2009, Riverstone was granted authorization to offer the Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme[6] and began offering a full day preschool. Riverstone received the Idaho Governor's Brightest Stars Award for Schools in 2009.[7] In 2010 the school built a modern, light-filled Elementary School building, which also houses the administrative staff.

In 2012, Riverstone was awarded the state's only Malone Family Foundation school designation, joining the prestigious Malone School network. Students entering grades 7-9 with financial need may apply for Malone Scholarships.

The School expanded in 2016 to include a residential program for students in grades 9-12. Located in downtown Boise, "Riverstone House"provides an excellent home base for boarding students to enjoy the Boise community, shopping, and outdoor adventure when not studying at the School's Warm Spring Avenue campus.

The School continues to receive accolades, including The Washington Post's Most Challenging High School (2016) and Niche's Idaho's Best Private School (2015 and 2016). One hundred percent of Riverstone's graduates are accepted into four year colleges and universities. The School's average International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme pass rate for 2014-2016 exceeds the international average pass rate and the United States pass rate. Riverstone's IB pass rate is the highest pass rate in the state.

Currently, the School has representation from 46 countries in its community of students, families, and staff. Over 340 students are enrolled from preschool through high school.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ibo.org/school/search/index.cfm?programmes=&country=US&region=&find_schools=Find
  2. ↑ http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=53200
  3. ↑ "International Baccalaureate school search". Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "Good school news". Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  5. ↑ http://www.ibo.org/school/001517/
  6. ↑ http://www.ibo.org/school/001517/
  7. ↑ http://serveidaho.labor.idaho.gov/Portals/0/Docs/Conferences/BrightestStars/PastPrograms/Final%202009%20Brightest%20Stars%20Program.pdf

External links

Coordinates: 43°33′53″N 116°06′54″W / 43.56472°N 116.11500°W / 43.56472; -116.11500

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.