Blair International Baccalaureate School

Blair International Baccalaureate School (formerly Blair High School) is located at 1201 S. Marengo Avenue, Pasadena, California 91106 and is in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD).It offers the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme. The school underwent a major academic overhaul beginning in the fall of 2003 as a result of sub-standard academic performance, which prompted a state review. The school's two "co-principals" were replaced with a single principal, Rich Boccia (an administrative official with the Pasadena Unified School District, and district employee since 1980), who previously was principal at South Pasadena Middle School. During Boccia's tenure, school wide academic performance rose sharply as a result of several academic reforms and in 2005 Boccia was named Secondary School Principal of the Year for the State of California for his leadership success at turning around Blair.

During the 2005-2006 school year, Blair International Baccalaureate School was one of many PUSD schools threatened to be shut down due to budget cuts.The prospect of having to send their children to Muir High School and elsewhere brought out a strong showing of community support and was able to convince the Pasadena school board to keep Blair open. Students, parents (both with enrolled children, and those considering Blair), and various local figures attended school board meetings...
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