Lincoln School Costa Rica is a Candidate School* for the IBCP. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Lincoln School believes is important for our students.
At Lincoln School, we are committed to providing our students with innovative and impactful learning experiences that prepare them for both college and career success. This commitment has led us to begin transforming our well-established Entrepreneurship Academy into an International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP). This bold step (Lincoln School would have the first IBCP in Central America) reflects our dedication to offering students a globally recognized credential, increased academic flexibility, and meaningful opportunities to earn college credit before graduating high school.
Why the IBCP?
Adopting the IBCP is a clear choice for Lincoln School as it aligns with our mission to prepare students to be both college and career ready. Unlike traditional academic tracks, the IBCP allows students to blend rigorous IB Diploma Programme (DP) courses with career-focused study and college-level coursework. This not only enhances critical thinking and global-mindedness but also provides students with real-world skills and practical knowledge. It also broadens access to an IB credential, empowering more students to pursue pathways that match their unique strengths and aspirations.
Rigorous Academic Requirements
Our IBCP students will take a minimum of two IB Diploma courses: English and Spanish. Almost all will do so at a native-speaker level, meaning most will earn a bilingual IBCP certificate. Additionally, IBCP students have the opportunity to take up to 5 total IBDP courses, depending on the Career Pathway they choose. These, along with their Career Related Study courses will allow students to earn significant college credit while still in high school.
Personal and Professional Skills and the IBCP Core
In addition to their aforementioned IBDP courses, students in the IBCP will complete a unique course called Personal and Professional Skills. As the name indicates, this course is designed to prepare students for the executive functioning demands of college and career. Students will practice writing resumes, interviewing, and creating plans to organize and prioritize their time to complete simultaneous, cognitively demanding tasks. Additionally, students will work with their PPS teacher to complete other components of the IBCP Core: namely the Reflective Project and Language Portfolio.
Innovative Dual Enrollment Opportunities
Last but not least, one of the most compelling features of our IBCP program is the integration of dual enrollment opportunities with leading universities. We are proud to partner with:
- Arizona State University (ASU) which offers two Business Pathways where students can earn up to 18 college credits during high school, positioning them ahead of the curve in their university studies.
- UCIMED to develop a Pre-Medicine Pathway, enabling students to complete their first semester of medical school while still in high school, an unprecedented opportunity in the region.
- Babson College to offer an Entrepreneurship Pathway, where students can complete four Babson courses, gaining world-class insights into entrepreneurial leadership and innovation.
- An additional pathway with a leading US university for students interested in Engineering and Design. While we have identified this partner, they will be named at a later date.
These partnerships represent unique opportunities for students to learn more about their fields of interest, earn college credit to advance their studies and opportunities for college matriculation, and the opportunity to practice the executive skills they’ll need to navigate university successfully. In doing so, they reflect our commitment to not only meet but exceed international standards of excellence, giving our students a competitive edge in global education.
Leading the Way in Central America
This IBCP initiative represents a significant milestone, as Lincoln School is striving to become the first institution in Central America to launch this progressive program. Moreover, our dual enrollment pathways are among the first of their kind in the region, demonstrating Lincoln School’s role as an educational innovator dedicated to expanding access to high-quality, future-focused learning opportunities. All told, students in the IBCP will have completed rigorous IBDP coursework, dual-enrollment courses from leading local and international universities, and additional coursework designed to prepare them for college and career.
Candidacy Status: What This Means
We are excited to announce that Lincoln School has been approved for candidacy status in the IBCP program. This is an important first step toward full authorization, and we are committed to working closely with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to meet the rigorous standards required for full implementation. As we move forward, we will keep our community informed of our progress and the exciting opportunities this program will bring to our students.
In the meantime, we are already implementing the key components of the program. Even though our current rising 11th grade students will not be eligible for the IB certificate, they will have access to the full slate of dual enrollment programs and the IBCP course Personal and Professional Skills. While there are no guarantees, we are hopeful that the next class of rising 11th graders (Class of 28) will be eligible for the IBCP certificate.
We are proud to lead the way in reshaping what education looks like in Central America and the world, setting the stage for our students to thrive in both local and global contexts. We look forward to sharing this journey with our Lincoln School community and demonstrating the power of innovation and opportunity here at Lincoln School Costa Rica!
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