The Impact of Middle Years Program At Dobbs Ferry High School

Since 2016, Dobbs Ferry High School has offered the Middle Years Programme to all students.  The IB Middle Years Program is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program.  Rather than concentrating only on content knowledge, students' intellectual and social development is the focus of the MYP.

The characteristics that are outlined in the IB Learner Profile underpin the philosophy of our school and guide the learning experiences that students receive across the disciplines. A specific focus on the acquisition of critical thinking, reading, and writing skills through the use of student-centered inquiry-based approaches to learning, the underpinnings of the Middle Years Program, has enabled our school to increase both student participation and performance in the Diploma Program.

The Middle Years Program insists upon the thorough study of various disciplines and encourages students to:

• • • see the interrelatedness of disciplines
    • appreciate other cultures, as well as understand one's own history and traditions
    • develop admiration for the elegance and richness of human expression
    • learn to communicate effectively in one's own language as well as in a second language 
    • become competent in the use of informational technology, acquire a genuine love of learning and develop disciplined habits of mind and body that will guide their young adulthood

The students’ experiences throughout grades 6-10 culminate with the creation of a Personal Project in grade 10. This interdisciplinary project encompasses all of the research skills that students will need in order to successfully complete the Extended Essay in grades 11-12. In addition to the curricular benefits, MYP provides high school teachers with access to official IB training as well as MYP roundtables, which encourages collaboration among fellow IB educators in the tri-state area. Both are invaluable opportunities for professional development and help to ensure that our teachers remain on the cutting edge of teaching and learning.

Lastly, the MYP helps to further bridge the middle and high school experiences, as well as ensures that more students are prepared for the rigors of the IB Diploma Programme. The qualities and skills in the IB Learner Profile are acquired after many years of exploration and preparation. By bringing these principles to grade six, more students will develop these critical attributes so that they can access more IB Diploma courses and/or pursue the full IB Diploma.