PITTSBURGH -- One school board member called the program anti-Christian, anti-American and too expensive for a school district with a $50 million budget.

On Monday night, nearly 1,000 angry students and parents in the Upper Saint Clair School District lashed out at the board members who voted 5-4 to end an advanced educational program that is recognized as one of the best in 120 countries worldwide.

Three schools in the area -- Schenley and Vincentian -- offer the International Baccalaureate program.

The classes are so advanced that some high school seniors can even earn enough credits to skip their freshman year at college.

But that costs money -- money Upper Saint Clair's School Board said, "for this community, this would be educational equivalent of [Hurricane] Katrina -- a lot of hot air and a total disaster."

Despite the despair and debate, the Upper Saint Clair School Board voted to end the IB program for all of its students.

"Last night after the board meeting, several parents immediately were talking about charter school program, chartering their kids to Vincentian," said parent Meg Kelly.

The Vincentian Academy, in the North Hills, is one of only two other local schools offering the IB program.

On Tuesday, it was dissecting day for the IB-level biology class -- one of the same advanced courses taught at Upper Saint Clair and in schools around the world.

"For one thing, we keep saying that the United States is falling back in the sciences and the math. With the IB curriculum, we know that we are keeping up with other students around the world because we all take the same tests," said Sr. Tonya Severin of Vincentian Academy.

Tests are shipped to teachers in other countries for grading purposes and an extra critical set of eyes.

"We graduated 52 kids, and they were awarded more than $4 million in scholarship offers," said Dr. Timothy Rusnak.

In response to comments about the program being anti-Christian or anti-American, Rusnak -- the academy's president -- simply points to crosses in the classroom.

One woman said she moved to the area from Europe so her kids could attend Upper Saint Clair for the IB program.

Several businessmen said it will be hard for Allegheny County to recruit international businesses without offering more of that kind of program, recognized widely around the globe.

The $80,000 price tag on the program is about one percent of the school's $50 million budget.

Outraged parents said they plan to organize a meeting for sometime Thursday night.