During their sophomore year, all North Atlanta students are required to complete a cumulative project for the International Baccalaureate Program known as the Middle Years Program (MYP) Project. This project allows students to delve into areas of personal interest over an extended period. All North Atlanta and Sutton students are a part of the IB Middle Years Program from grades sixth through tenth. This program emphasizes intellectual challenge and encourages students to make connections between their studies and the real world.
The MYP project consists of three major components: process, product, and report. The process focuses on ideas, criteria, developments, challenges, plans, and research. The product focuses on either tangible or intangible results. The report is a comprehensive account of the project and its impact. Students choose a topic that aligns with their interests and has the potential to make a positive impact on their community. Sophomores set a goal for themselves related to their topic that they spend the year working towards. Students work through the project with an advisement teacher to whom they are assigned at the beginning of the year. Michael Robinson, a tenth-grade world history teacher, is also an MYP advisement teacher. Robinson thinks the MYP project is very beneficial to students as they get to work on something that is interesting to them and largely self-directed. Robinson does encounter inequalities when it comes to the project, however. “The main issue with how the project is set up is largely true in American education as a whole, which is that students of high socioeconomic status do really well on it, and students that come from poorer backgrounds do not do as well,” said Robinson. “But that is not unique to the MYP project. It is true of school broadly.”
Topics for the MYP project span a wide spectrum, reflecting students’ diverse interests. For instance, sophomore Maya Hullum is teaching herself how to sew and make clothes. Sophomore Ryan Conley is coding a game in which people can improve their memory through various methods, such as rote memorization and mental visualization. “I was inspired to create this project by my extremely poor memory,” said Conley. “I have ADHD and struggle a lot with remembering important things like where I need to be when and what I was previously doing.”
Students’ success on their MYP projects plays a pivotal role in determining their eligibility for one of the two IB programs North Atlanta offers for juniors and seniors. Students interested in IB have the option to enter either the IB Career Path (IB CP) or the IB Diploma Program (IB DP). IB DP has a primary focus on academic studies and is designed to prepare students for higher education. In contrast, IB CP combines academic studies with career-related learning. Sarah Kate Gleason, a sophomore, is planning to enter the IB Diploma Program next year. “I want to go into IB because I think it will be a great way to prepare for college and life in general,” said Gleason.
Through the MYP projects, North Atlanta students not only explore their passions but also take significant strides toward building a bridge between their academic journey and the world beyond. The project sets the stage for students’ future educational and career endeavors.
