Newbury Park High School is offering International Baccalaureate classes to 9th and 10th graders for the first time in the 2026-27 school year, expanding the district's most rigorous academic track to underclassmen.

The expansion, part of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), means Conejo Valley Unified School District students can now follow an IB track from kindergarten through 12th grade. No other Ventura County district offers that. CVUSD is the first in the county to provide a complete TK-12 IB continuum, according to a district announcement on June 24.

A Newbury Park High representative shared the plan at the CVUSD GATE District Advisory Council meeting on May 15, telling members that "IB classes will be available to 9th and 10th graders next year through the Middle Years program." The district confirmed the authorization on June 24, covering both NPHS for grades 9-10 and Sequoia Middle School for grades 6-8.

Before the 2026-27 school year, IB options at Newbury Park High were limited to the Diploma Programme for juniors and seniors. Cypress Elementary offers the IB Primary Years Programme for grades TK-5. The MYP authorization at Sequoia and NPHS bridges those two programs.

The district described the authorization as the result of a multi-year process of planning and evaluation to meet IB Organization standards. NPHS describes itself as home to the region's oldest and largest IB program, according to the school's website.

GATE council elects new chair

At the same May 15 meeting, the GATE advisory council elected its 2026-27 executive board by oral vote. Alia Matthews, who served as parliamentarian in 2025-26, takes over as chair. Christine Wells, the outgoing chair, moves to vice chair.

The rest of the board: Erika Dahle Petras as parliamentarian, Kanela Artavia as secretary, and Kristie Ashworth and Sarah Rosas as members at large.

Stefanie Caswell, GATE teacher on special assignment for CVUSD, presented a year-end report on the district's Academically Challenging Enrichment Studies activities. The council also discussed whether fewer boys have been qualifying for GATE, with members noting that younger boys may have more difficulty focusing during eligibility assessments.

Thousand Oaks High School's representative outlined plans for a mentorship program pairing GATE students with younger students at feeder middle schools.

The GATE council was scheduled to meet again Friday, Sept. 11. The full 2026-27 meeting schedule has not yet been posted.