Time is running out to sign up for the public school board's new International Baccalaureate program launching in September.
The deadline to apply is February 15.
The Greater Essex County District School Board program is launching at Riverside Secondary School in Windsor and Leamington District Secondary School.
About 250 applications have been handed out for the program at Riverside while well over 100 applications have been handed out for the program in Leamington.
Derek Tomkins, program coordinator at Riverside, says interest has been high.
"We have had such a tremendous response. I think we have an unlimited number of spots, I guess if we filled the whole school, then we'd have to start thinking about it. The demand has been really interesting," says Tomkins.
Lisa Jeffery is the program coordinator in Leamington.
She says an International Baccalaureate diploma can open new doors for students.
"It's recognized world wide, so if a student graduated in Leamington or Riverside for example and wanted to study in Switzerland, that diploma is recognized — not all diplomas are, so it gives them a huge advantage," says Jeffery.
Jeffery is excited to see what the program will do for students.
"We have students engaged in sports and community activities and ministry of education initiatives; all these things that are IB related and already in place and I feel, 'Finally, our students are going to be recognized for what they're already doing,'" says Jeffery.
The program is first being offered to grade nine students before eventually be offered across all high school grades.
There are 145 countries part of the International Baccalaureate program.