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{{About|2=the British diplomatic training academy|3=International Academy (United Kingdom)|4=|5=}}
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{{Use American English|date=September 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox school
 | name                    = International Academy
 | image                   = File:International Academy - Exterior (51159701410).jpg
 | caption                 = Okma Campus
 | streetaddress           = 1020 E. Square Lake Road
 | city                    = [[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan|Bloomfield Hills]]
 | state                   = [[Michigan]]
 | county                  = [[Oakland County, Michigan|Oakland County]]
 | zipcode                 = 48304-1957
 | country                 = United States
 | coordinates             = {{coord|42|36|11|N|83|13|33|W|display=inline,title}}
 | district                = [[Bloomfield Hills School District]]
 | affiliation             = [[International Baccalaureate]]
 | founder                 = Lambert Okma
 | established             = 1996
 | principal               = Lynne Gibson
 | newspaper               = The Overachiever
 | motto                   = "A World of Learning"
 | schooltype              = [[Magnet school|magnet]] [[high school]]
 | fundingtype             = [[Public school (government funded)|Public]]
 | mascot                  = Phoenix
 | colors                  = Navy blue and Silver<br />{{color box|#000080}} {{color box|#C0C0C0}}
 | enrollment              = 1337<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=2606090&ID=260609001588 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402094924/http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=2606090&ID=260609001588 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |title=Search for Public Schools - School Detail for International Academy}}</ref>
 | homepage                = http://www.iatoday.org/
}}
The '''International Academy''' ('''IA''') is a [[public school (government funded)|public]], [[Magnet school|magnet]] [[high school]] with its main campus located in [[Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan|Bloomfield Township]]<!--It is NOT in the Bloomfield Hills city limits. See maps below-->, [[Oakland County]], [[Michigan]], with additional campuses in [[White Lake Township|White Lake Township, Michigan]] and [[Troy, Michigan|Troy]], [[Michigan]].

Students are required to earn both high school and [[International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme|International Baccalaureate]] (IB) diplomas. In 2020, according to IA, 92% of the graduates earned IB diplomas, compared to the world average of 79%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the IA|url=https://www.iatoday.org/about-us/points-of-pride|website=iatoday.org}}</ref>

== Foundation==
The school was founded at the initiative of Lambert Okma, who proposed it to the [[Bloomfield Hills School District]] in 1992.<ref name="Taylor">Julie A. Taylor. [http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ht/37.4/taylor.html teaching History at America's#1 High School], in ''The History Teacher'', Vol. 37, No. 4., August 2004. Accessed 2006-09-24. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060517185508/http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ht/37.4/taylor.html|date=May 17, 2006}}</ref> Okma previously taught economics at Bloomfield Hills [[Lahser High School]]. While teaching at Lahser, Okma attended a series of seminars with the educational outreach coordinator of The Federal Reserve Bank of Detroit, where they discussed how they felt that there was a necessity for education to respond to rapidly increasing globalization. Their response was to propose "a high school with an emphasis on developing skills and personal attributes needed to succeed in the international arena, using the international baccalaureate as its core."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Alexander J. Drukas|date=2008-02-28|title=An Interview With, Bert Okma Principal and founder, International Academy, Bloomfield Hills|url=https://www.mlive.com/oak_business_review/2008/02/an_interview_with_bert_okma_pr.html|access-date=2021-08-24|website=mlive|language=en}}</ref>

International Academy opened in August 1996 with Okma as principal, and the school had its first graduates in May 2000. The Okma campus is officially hosted by the Bloomfield Hills School District, and the campuses collectively are managed by a consortium consisting of the [[Avondale School District|Avondale]], [[Berkley School District|Berkley]], [[Birmingham City School District|Birmingham]], Bloomfield Hills, [[Clawson Public Schools|Clawson]], [[Huron Valley School District|Huron Valley]], [[Lake Orion Community Schools|Lake Orion]], [[Rochester Community Schools (Michigan)|Rochester]], [[Royal Oak School District|Royal Oak]], [[South Lyon Community Schools|South Lyon]], [[Troy School District (Michigan)|Troy]], [[Waterford School District|Waterford]], and [[West Bloomfield School District|West Bloomfield]] school districts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Consortium Districts - International Academy|url=https://www.iatoday.org/about-us/consortium-district|access-date=2021-08-24|website=www.iatoday.org|language=en-US}}</ref>

Okma retired from his position as principal at the end of the 2008-09 year, though he continues to work as an IB consultant for other districts.

==Recognition==

{{Infobox High school student assessments in Michigan
| year = 2021–22
| M-STEP Advanced = 62.8 / 41.7
| M-STEP Proficient = 26.7 / 42.6
| M-STEP PR Proficient = 6.6 / –
| M-STEP Not Proficient = 3.9 / ≤1
| PSAT Total = 
| SAT Total = 1311.3
| SAT Total change = 10.8
| ref = <ref name="misd">{{cite web |url=https://www.mischooldata.org/annual-education-report-1/ |title=MI School Data Annual Education Report|publisher=MI School Data|access-date=2023-01-10}}</ref>
| change ref = <ref name="misd" />
}}

IA was recognized by ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine as the top public school in the nation in 2003,<ref>Newsweek (2003). [http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?q=2003/rank/1/ The Top of the Class]. Accessed 2006-09-24.</ref> second in 2004,<ref>Newsweek (2004). [http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?q=2004/rank/1/ The Top of the Class]. Accessed 2006-09-24.</ref> second in 2005,<ref>Washington Post (May 23, 2005), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/education/challenge/2005/challengeindex01.html Jay Matthew's Challenge Index]. Accessed 2006-09-24.</ref> ninth in 2006,<ref>Newsweek (2006), [http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?q=2006/rank/1/ The Top of the Class]. Accessed 2006-09-24.</ref> seventh in 2007,<ref>Newsweek (2007). [http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?q=2007/rank/1/ The Top of the Class]. Accessed 2008-07-06.</ref> twelfth in 2008,<ref>Newsweek (2008). [http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?q=2008/rank/1/ The Top of the Class] Accessed 2008-07-06.</ref> second in 2009, 25th in 2010, 20th in 2011, 5th in 2012, 18th in 2013, 9th in 2014, and 8th in 2015. ''Newsweek'''s standings were based on the number of IB (International Baccalaureate) or AP (Advanced Placement) tests that the school averaged per graduating senior. The IA's high rankings are due to the full diploma program being required of all students, meaning they each sit for at least 6 IB exams in May of their senior year. Each senior therefore takes at least six IB tests (in addition to the Theory of Knowledge course; Creativity, Action, & Service hours; and Extended Essay requirements), giving the school a high average number of IB tests.

IA was recognized by the ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' as the second-best public high school in the nation in December 2009.<ref>U.S. News (2009). {{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2008/12/04/best-high-schools-gold-medal-list.html |title=Best High Schools: Gold Medal List - US News and World Report |access-date=2009-01-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211114757/http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2008/12/04/best-high-schools-gold-medal-list.html |archive-date=2008-12-11 }}. Accessed 2009-09-26.</ref> Again earning this #2 ranking in 2011.<ref>U.S. News (2011).  {{cite web |url=http://education.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-high-schools/listings/michigan/international-academy |title=International Academy &#124; Best High Schools &#124; U.S. News |access-date=2011-07-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819004511/http://education.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-high-schools/listings/michigan/international-academy |archive-date=2011-08-19 }} Accessed 2011-07-26.</ref> In 2014, IA dropped down to 9th ranking.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/michigan/districts/bloomfield-hills-school-district/international-academy-9741 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508155635/http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/michigan/districts/bloomfield-hills-school-district/international-academy-9741 |archive-date=2012-05-08 |title=International Academy in BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI {{!}} Best High Schools {{!}} US News}}</ref> In 2016, IA was once again ranked 9th.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/michigan/districts/bloomfield-hills-schools/international-academy-9741 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524060343/http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/michigan/districts/bloomfield-hills-schools/international-academy-9741 |archive-date=2015-05-24 |title=International Academy in BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI {{!}} Best High Schools {{!}} US News}}</ref> The U.S. news used "quality-adjusted tests per student" as the criteria. The International Academy was also named the best public IB program in the country, with an "IB Diploma per Grade 12 student enrolled" rate of 90.4%.<ref>U.S. News (2009). [https://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2008/12/10/best-high-schools-top-ib-schools.html]. Accessed 2009-09-26.</ref> In 2021, IA ranked No. 43 in the United States and No. 3 in Michigan among public high schools according to ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 April 2021|title=2021 Best U.S. High Schools|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430003703/https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings|archive-date=April 30, 2021|access-date=August 24, 2021|website=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref> In 2024, they rose to No. 8 ranking nationally and No. 1 ranking in Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 April 2024|title=2024 Best U.S. High Schools|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723184940/https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/michigan/districts/oakland-schools/international-academy-9741|archive-date=July 23, 2025|access-date=July 23, 2025|website=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref>

According to IA, the Class of 2018 average [[SAT]] scores were 659 for Evidence-based Reading and Writing, and 721 for Math. The average [[ACT (examination)|ACT]] composite score was a 29.7. In addition, 57 members (16%) of the Class of 2018 were named National Merit Scholars, 30 of whom were Finalists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iatoday.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=596765&type=d&pREC_ID=1080492|title=Points of Pride – International Academy|website=www.iatoday.org|access-date=2018-12-06|archive-date=2018-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207045930/https://www.iatoday.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=596765&type=d&pREC_ID=1080492|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Student life==
Students are selected by lottery among the applicants.<ref name="Taylor"/> In 2004, the school enrollment was 576.<ref>Shannon Flumerfelt and Eric Follo (November 2004), [http://www.asbj.com/2004/11/1104coverstory2.html Remaking High School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019170314/http://www.asbj.com/2004/11/1104coverstory2.html |date=2006-10-19 }}, ''American School Board Journal'', Vol. 191, No. 11. Accessed 2006-09-24.</ref> International Academy has an extended school year (205 days) and an extended school day. At the end of the school day, many students stay to participate in after-school clubs, extra classes (jazz band or full orchestra), or meet with teachers and friends. Students may also participate in activities at their home schools. Students typically only participate in activities at their home high schools that the International Academy does not offer, including [[sports]] teams and [[marching band]]s.

===Internationalism===
The IA often classifies itself as an [[international school]], and has a number of international students - about 10 to 15 percent of the student body attended a school overseas before coming to the IA. However, their families must move to one of the sending districts before coming to the IA.<ref name="ReferenceA">International Academy Student Profile</ref> The IA does not have boarding students. The IA gives preference to international students (classified as students who have lived in the US for less than one year), as well as students coming from other IB schools (in the United States or elsewhere). The Central and East campuses have particularly large [[Asian-American]] populations (mainly from China, [[Korea]], the [[Indian subcontinent]], and the [[Middle East]]).

===Athletics===
The International Academy has no school-sponsored sports. When the IA was founded in 1996, it agreed not to sponsor sports teams when sending districts voiced concern that they would lose athletes to the IA. Students who wish to participate in sports or marching band must do so through their sending district. About one-third of the students participate in competitive sports or other activities through their home high schools.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
<br />
The IA is allowed to have athletic teams which compete against other schools so long as they are completely student-run, with no funding from the school.  In the past, students have started their own competitive teams, including a series of [[Football (soccer)|soccer]] teams, an [[Ultimate (sport)|Ultimate Frisbee]] club, and a competitive boys' basketball team.<ref>International Academy Co-Curricular Clubs list</ref>  There are also school-funded intramural tournaments, such as a [[Paintball]] tournament and the annual IA Olympics, which consists of various competitive events, including athletic events, between the different grades at each campus.  Currently, the primary student-led sports are run by The Table Tennis Association, The International Academy Cricket Association, and The Ultimate Frisbee Club.

==Facilities==
The International Academy's Central Campus, the Okma Campus, is located in [[Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan|Bloomfield Township]], [[Michigan]] in [[Metro Detroit]], near [[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan|Bloomfield Hills]].<ref>"[http://www.bloomfieldtwp.org/Community/Maps/StreetMapFront.pdf Bloomfield Township Street Map]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140704094539/http://www.bloomfieldtwp.org/Community/Maps/StreetMapFront.pdf Archive]) [[Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan|Bloomfield Township, Oakland County]]. Retrieved on July 30, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.iatoday.org/international/index.aspx Home page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408041418/http://www.iatoday.org/international/index.aspx |date=2015-04-08 }}. International Academy. Retrieved on April 16, 2015. "Okma Campus  •  1020 E. Square Lake Road  •  Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304"</ref>

It is housed in the former site of Elizabeth Taylor Traub Elementary School. International Academy's Okma Campus building used to host Kensington Academy, a Catholic school.<ref>"[http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view;jsessionid=TJQ1PNsLnjczs2LCS89gtbJgl3s4ywvcl89qTnD1Vmtc2GcNpQGC!1471562840!-321460796?id=6007645388 U.S. Federal Communications Commission]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150416181544/http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view;jsessionid=TJQ1PNsLnjczs2LCS89gtbJgl3s4ywvcl89qTnD1Vmtc2GcNpQGC!1471562840!-321460796?id=6007645388 Archive]). Booth Communications Bloomfield at the [[Federal Communications Commission]]. Retrieved on April 16, 2015. p. 18/25. "Kensington Academy 1020 E. Square Lake Rd. Bloomfield Hills, Michigan"</ref>

Districts which send students to the Central Campus include [[Avondale School District|Avondale]], [[Bloomfield Hills School District|Bloomfield Hills]], [[Berkley School District|Berkley]], [[Birmingham Public School District|Birmingham]], [[Clawson Public Schools|Clawson]], [[Lake Orion Community Schools|Lake Orion]], [[Rochester Community Schools (Michigan)|Rochester]], [[Royal Oak School District|Royal Oak]], [[Walled Lake School District|Walled Lake]], [[Waterford School District|Waterford]] and [[West Bloomfield School District|West Bloomfield]].  The [[Farmington Public Schools (Michigan)|Farmington]] and [[Oxford School District|Oxford]] districts have recently chosen to leave the IA consortium in order to start their own IB programs.<ref>[http://www.oxford.k12.mi.us/article_display.cfm?article_id=5999 Oxford Schools: Oxford Schools - Candidates for the IB World Schools<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719024428/http://www.oxford.k12.mi.us/article_display.cfm?article_id=5999 |date=2011-07-19 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.farmington.k12.mi.us/curriculum/inter_bacc/ Farmington Public Schools | International Baccalaureate (IB) Information<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927160736/http://www.farmington.k12.mi.us/curriculum/inter_bacc/ |date=2013-09-27 }}</ref>

===West Campus===
The West campus was the first satellite campus of the International Academy. A satellite campus had been considered as early as 2003.<ref name="Taylor"/> This school first held classes in August 2006, and its first graduating class was the Class of 2010. The IA West campus is located inside [[Lakeland High School (White Lake Township, Michigan)|Lakeland High School]] of [[Huron Valley School District|Huron Valley Schools]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iatoday.org/pdf/ia_west_flyer.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-11-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012165416/http://www.iatoday.org/pdf/ia_west_flyer.pdf |archive-date=2007-10-12 }}</ref> The sending districts include Huron Valley and [[South Lyon, MI|South Lyon]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.iatoday.org/ia_w_districts.html |title=International Academy |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804020939/http://www.iatoday.org/ia_w_districts.html |archive-date=4 August 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Their experience is similar to that of students on the Central Campus, with the exception of fewer options in foreign language (Spanish and French only).  Like at the Central Campus, students play sports through their sending districts. Huron Valley Schools has opened up 10 spots for students in districts outside the International Academy consortium, including students living outside of [[Oakland County]], for the Class of 2011 onward.  Though initially successful, the West campus has seen its number of consortium districts dwindle as a result of district budget cuts and more districts (such as [[Fenton, MI|Fenton]]) opting to start their own IB programs rather than send students to the IA.<ref>[http://www.fenton.k12.mi.us/index.aspx?item=373] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526042830/http://www.fenton.k12.mi.us/index.aspx?item=373|date=May 26, 2010}}</ref>

===East Campus===
IA has set up an Eastern campus in [[Troy, Michigan|Troy]], in the former [[Troy School District (Michigan)|Baker Middle School]] building. Classes were first held in the 2008-2009 school year. Like the other two campuses, the school began with one freshman class and has added another each year. The first graduating class graduated in 2012. This campus includes students from the Troy School District as well as school-of-choice students from other districts.<ref>[http://www.iatoday.org/pdf/ia_east_flyer.pdf]{{dead link|date=May 2013}}</ref> Troy students through the Class of 2011 attended the Central campus. The Eastern campus's student body is about the same size as the Central campus, and students have access to the same classes as students at the Central campus, save for German, which was not added to the curriculum as the first incoming freshman class did not have a sufficient number of people who were interested in the course. The Eastern campus offers the same fine arts options as the Central campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iatoday.org/pdf/east9troyapp.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.iatoday.org |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107054603/http://www.iatoday.org/pdf/east9troyapp.pdf |archive-date=7 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
* Julia Baritz, founder of social media website [[Pillowfort]] (class of 2009)
*[[Weike Wang]], writer, winner of the 2018 [[PEN/Hemingway Award]] (class of 2007)

==See also==
{{Portal|Michigan|Schools}}
* [[International Baccalaureate]]
** [[List of International Baccalaureate people]]
* [[Bloomfield Hills School District]]
* [[Huron Valley School District]]
** [[Lakeland High School (White Lake Township, Michigan)|Lakeland High School]]
* [[Troy School District (Michigan)|Troy School District]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.iatoday.org/ International Academy Web Site]
{{Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan}}
{{Troy, Michigan }}
{{Oakland County, Michigan High Schools}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1996]]
[[Category:Public high schools in Michigan]]
[[Category:International Baccalaureate schools in Michigan]]
[[Category:Schools in Oakland County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Bloomfield Hills, Michigan]]
[[Category:Magnet schools in Michigan]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Michigan]]