FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) – A Navajo high school has become the first Native American International Baccalaureate school in the country.

The Farmington Daily Times reports Navajo Preparatory School had its application approved last month to become an International Baccalaureate World School.

The accreditation means the school can offer an academically challenging program with an international emphasis.

The program will mean students who participate can get a year’s worth of credits and potentially start their first year of college at the sophomore level.

Navajo Prep will be the fifth school in New Mexico to offer the program.

Navajo Prep Executive Director Betty Ojaye says the program will be taught starting in the 2014-2015 school year.

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Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com