[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM AT BARTOW HIGH SCHOOL

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                          HON. ADAM H. PUTNAM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2007

  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High School in Florida's 
12th Congressional District for being recognized as a gold medal school 
in U.S. News & World Report's first ever ranking of America's Best High 
Schools.
  U.S. News & World Report analyzed over 18,000 public schools across 
the United States in an effort to find the top 100 public schools. They 
used a three-step analysis to sort through the many schools taking into 
consideration how each school's students performed on state tests, 
evaluating how well each school's disadvantaged students performed, and 
looking at whether the school was successful in providing college-level 
coursework. Bartow's IB School placed third among the 100 other gold 
medal schools. This is quite an accomplishment and I commend the school 
for leading the way in excellence and for their commitment to 
empowering young minds.
  Bartow High School has a rich history of providing a high caliber 
education. Distinguished from other high schools in Polk County and 
from most high schools in Florida, its origin began in 1887 as the 
Summerlin Institute. Bartow High School is proudly 117 years old and 
because of its history and tradition, many of its former students have 
gone on to achieve great success.
  Included in this list are distinguished leaders from various 
professions. Spenssard Holland served as Florida's Governor in the 
1940s and as a U.S. Senator from 1946-1970. Army General James Alward 
Van Fleet served as a commander and led major campaigns in WWII and the 
Korean War, and President Truman once remarked that he was America's 
``greatest general.'' In addition, Kenneth Jerome Riley was honored as 
a Rhodes Scholar Candidate while attending Florida A&M University and 
went on to play as an NFL defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals.
  In 1996, Bartow High School embarked on its next endeavor when the 
school was selected by the International Baccalaureate World School 
program to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma program. 
Students that attend the IB School are challenged with increased 
expectations in both academic and community involvement, and because of 
this they graduate ready to compete and enter into a fast-paced world 
that offers endless opportunities.
  The IB School's mission is ``to ensure each student has the 
opportunity to achieve his or her potential and creatively influence 
society by providing students with an advanced international 
curriculum.'' Today, it is my honor to commend Dr. Edwin Vetter and his 
staff of extraordinary educators, including some who shaped my 
classroom experience, for their dedication and hard work. It is clear 
that the commitment by both staff and students surpasses their mission, 
as the IB School continues to be recognized for its performance, not 
only in the State of Florida, but across the nation too. As an alumnus 
of Bartow High School, which hosts the IB school, I look forward to 
their many future accomplishments.

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