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The Lycée International Track: 10 Reasons to Get Onboard!

 

As a parent of two daughters, I’ve found myself navigating the challenge of choosing the right school and program for my children. With countless questions and an overwhelming amount of information available online, it’s easy to feel uncertain and lost in the process.

Through my personal journey as a parent, combined with my professional experience as an educator, I’ve come to realize one essential truth: the student should always be at the heart of any quality education. Keeping this in mind has been key in making the best educational decisions for my children.

With that perspective, my aim here is to highlight 10 compelling reasons why the International Track program at the Lycée* is an exceptional option within the local education landscape. Whether you’re considering entry at the Middle or High School level, I hope these insights will help guide your decision-making process.

*I will focus here on the IB-powered Middle Years Program (MYP) of the International Track that spans from Gr6 through Gr9.

 

     1. Become a life-long learner

• Learn ‘how to learn’ using communication, research, self-management, collaboration and critical thinking skills.

In our classes, we strive to go beyond traditional education by encouraging students to view learning as a vital key to a successful and fulfilling life. Education extends beyond the classroom shaping their future careers and personal lives.

Our students embrace this philosophy, integrating it into their daily experiences. For instance, I recall being so proud of Matéo who, during his English class, became so engaged with a graphic novel that he requested a list of additional graphic novels to explore independently. This simple yet proactive approach to learning exemplifies the lifelong learning mindset we cultivate in the International Track, where students are encouraged to pursue their interests beyond the classroom, deepening their knowledge and fostering a genuine love for learning.

 

     2. Learn by doing and experiencing

• Through the MYP community project, students learn to service the community and connect what they learn in the classroom to ‘real life.’

As an educator, I’ve witnessed that the best way to learn is through hands-on experience. In the International Track, we use this approach in every subject so that students aren’t just focused on writing things down, but actively engaging with the material.  

For example, in Science class, students recently conducted an experiment to determine the number of layers in an egg's shell. This hands-on activity helped them develop skills in drawing conclusions and forming hypotheses based on observational evidence. By engaging in this experiment, students created lasting memories while reinforcing their understanding of the material and their appetite for learning.

Students also gain real-life experience through the community project, which, in the International Track, they complete in either Gr 8 or 9. This project encourages them to engage with their community by identifying a need and developing a solution, allowing them to apply their learning in a meaningful way.

 

     3. Be encouraged to think critically

• The International Track encourages students to analyze and evaluate complex issues, generate innovative ideas, and embrace diverse perspectives.

In our classes we discuss a range of issues in all subjects.  For instance, we discuss the impact of racism, colonialism and culture dynamics with Indigenous communities and we do not only seek to understand the past, but also to creatively build a better future.

In the Individuals & Societies class, students examined poverty from multiple analytical levels across the United States. Using arcGIS technology—a professional-grade geospatial platform—they investigated data to predict why certain areas are more or less likely to fall below the poverty line. This exercise provided a crucial lesson in recognizing how generalizations can obscure important facts and data.

 

     4. Explore global challenges

• The International Track empowers students to deepen their understanding of the world by exploring globally significant ideas and issues.

In our classroom, we seek to explore the similarities and differences between the peoples of the world and strive to build connections based on respect and empathy. We encourage questions like: How do the challenges we face here compare to those experienced elsewhere? How can we contribute to positive change?

For example, after examining the work of author Thien Pham, who fled war in Vietnam to become an American citizen, students reflected on what it truly means to be American. This discussion inspired them to consider diverse definitions of identity and belonging in today’s world.

 

     5. Learn for understanding

• Students move beyond memorizing facts for exams; they engage deeply with the material by asking “why”.

In the International Track, we encourage critical inquiry into every subject: Why is this formula in mathematics the best approach for solving a problem? Why did the author choose that particular setting? Why is the scientific method important? Why did these historical events unfold as they did?

The focus on inquiry forms the cornerstone of the approach we adopt in this track. For instance, in math class, Jack was able to convert a mixed number into an improper fraction but struggled to explain why his method worked, despite his familiarity with it. By analyzing the problem and asking "why," he gained a deeper understanding of his technique, enhancing both his mathematical knowledge and critical thinking skills.

The International Track also includes the subject of ‘design’ where students are presented with problems and need to develop, or design, solutions. 

 

     6. Experience different approaches to learning

• In the International Track, regardless of the subject, each unit is required to focus on ‘approaches to learning’ that provides a wealth of pedagogical approaches.  

For example, in the ‘self-management’ model, students are trained to:

• Organize and plan their work
• Meet deadlines
• Concentrate
• Bounce back
• Persist
• Think positively

 

     7. Not be taught subjects in isolation

• Students are encouraged to make connections between subjects.

Each year of the International Track journey includes an interdisciplinary unit that merges two subjects into one. All eight subjects can work together, as we approach the unit planning process uniformly, using the same rubric to guide our efforts.

For example, in Individuals & Societies, students explored the interplay between subjects by discussing the types of qualitative and quantitative data that geographers would collect. They also analyzed an audio recording of Quebecois as part of their French Language Acquisition studies, demonstrating how interconnected knowledge enriches their learning experience.

 

     8. Be empowered to develop their talents

• Students feel empowered to prove what they know and earn their certificate or MYP course result.

In its approach, the International Track team seeks to discover and nourish the various talents students possess. Using a student-centered approach we build from the bottom up and help foster self-esteem by encouraging students to shine in what they are best at, but also to improve upon their other skills.

 

     9. Be prepared for future education

• Students are prepared for the Diploma Program.

Starting as early as grade 6, students are given the skills they will need to excel in the International Track program that will lead them to a dual diploma: the US High School diploma and the IB(International Baccalaureate) program. 

Similarly to the French Baccalaureate, the International Baccalaureate is globally renowned for its excellence and universities in the United States and across the globe recognize the strength of the IB Diploma.

With their double diploma, and a comprehensive, 4 year college counseling program focused on choices after high school with a focus on wellness and personal development, the students of the International Track can continue on anywhere in the world.

 

     10. Explore international-mindedness

• The International Track helps students critically appreciate their own culture and personal history, as well as the values and traditions of others.

The Lycée is an International school rooted in California. In our diverse cultural and linguistic landscape, we celebrate our differences as strengths. The International Track program teaches students to connect with individuals from various backgrounds, both in contemporary contexts and throughout history. 

Our vibrant international Lycée community, representing about 50 nationalities, facilitates meaningful interactions among students and teachers from diverse cultures. This unique environment enriches the learning experience by promoting cultural exchange, enhancing empathy, and developing global awareness.

Through these interactions, students gain valuable perspectives, build cross-cultural communication skills, and prepare for an interconnected world, ultimately becoming more open-minded and adaptable individuals.

 

In Conclusion

As both a parent and teacher, I feel that the IB-powered pedagogy delivered by the International Track offers the very best in everything I dream of for my children:  internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

Do you think this program might be a good fit ? 

Join us at one of our Admissions events , rsvp to the NOV 06 Open House for the International TracK in Middle and High School, or contact our Admissions Team to learn more.

 

Written with Lycée expert,

Christopher COQUARD (International Track Coordinator + English Language and Literature / Design Teacher)

 

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