Hunter Huss High School has a reputation built over decades of being "the worst school in the county." From the time a student begins attending Huss, expectations for their future are automatically and subconsciously lowered. These students, through no fault of their own, are often low income, with more than 70% receiving free or reduced lunch. However, Hunter Huss has produced Morehead scholars, QuestBridge College Match recipients, and many students attending such prestigious universities as Syracuse, Stanford, University of Virginia, Emory University, UNC Chapel Hill, MIT, and more. Why? Simple: The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The IB program is a rigorous, college level (not college prep) curriculum that both educates students and challenges them. As well as your sciences, maths, and histories, students learn the much more important skills of critical thinking, in depth analysis, purposeful questioning, and academically challenging their own and others' worldviews. This program produces students who are more well prepared for life after high school, whether college or otherwise, than any AP student can ever be. In a recent decision, the Gaston County Schools Board of Representatives made the unanimous decision to begin defunding the IB program, citing budgeting issues. Starting in the 2017-2018 school year, students will no longer be able to take any IB classes or receive their IB diplomas. These are students who have transferred from other schools or passed up acceptances to the prestigious Highland School of Technology in order to pursue IB. In place of the IB program, the county has elected to make Hunter Huss a "Career and Technical Education magnet school." In short, they have elected to limit future Hunter Huss students' opportunities to clinical nursing assistance, culinary assistance, childcare, or firefighting. We are petitioning the school board to reconsider their decision, and allow the IB program to continue being funded. There are so many undiscovered young minds yet to pass through the halls of Hunter Huss. Don't compel a future Stephen Hawking or Jedidiah Isler to become a daycare worker due to nothing more than the misfortune of their location or family income. Don't inhibit the future of these students for their sole offense of living in the Hunter Huss district.