Thank you for your interest in Palm Beach Central High School’s Cambridge International (AICE) Program!

We aim to provide all interested Palm Beach Central students an inclusive college preparatory curriculum. We are committed to:

• Collaborating with families to design a college-prep curriculum that reflects the needs and interests of students and prepares them to thrive in college and their careers
• Helping students access the resources and support they need to be successful
• Utilizing feedback from the school community to make our Cambridge (AICE) program responsive to student needs

About Cambridge International and AICE

The Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program is an accelerated plan of academic study offered solely through the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), a division of the University of Cambridge in England-an institution consistently ranked as one of the top five academic universities in the world. AICE offers a flexible, broad-based curriculum that is taught at schools in over 161 countries. For over 170 years, the University of Cambridge has been setting worldwide standards through their examinations.

Why are AICE courses and the AICE Diploma important?

AICE courses provide students the skills they need to become independent, college-ready learners. Their instructors teach them to be active participants in class, to think critically about the content they learn, effectively communicate their understanding orally and in writing, and complete complex assignments that challenge them to put their creativity, research skills, and problem-solving skills to work. Through this rigorous course of study, students sharpen their time-management and organizational skills.

In recognition of the wide-ranging benefits of participation in AICE courses, the Florida Legislature has identified AICE as a graduation option and acceleration mechanism through which students can be awarded up to 45 hours of college credit at all public universities and colleges in Florida. Students who earn the AICE Diploma and complete 100 hours of community service qualify for the 100% Florida Academic Scholars Bright Futures scholarship.

Palm Beach Central encourages all interested students to take AICE courses even if they are not seeking the AICE Diploma.

The Diploma Program

Students seeking the diploma are required to earn seven credits. Of the seven, they must take one course in each of three academic areas and complete the core requirement. Then, students have the opportunity to create a course of study that best meets their abilities and interests.

• One credit from Group 1 – Mathematics and Science
• One credit from Group 2 – Languages
• One credit from Group 3 – Arts and Humanities
• Core requirement: One credit in Global Perspectives and Research AS
• Optional - up to two credits from Group 4 – Interdisciplinary Skills Subjects (English General Paper AS and Thinking Skills AS)

Cambridge International Courses Offered at Palm Beach Central

• Group 1:  Biology AS and A, Chemistry AS, Environmental Management AS*, Marine Science AS and A, Physical Education AS*, Physics AS, and Psychology AS and A*
• Group 2: English Language AS and A, Spanish Language AS
• Group 3: Business AS, Drama AS, European History AS, Literature in English AS and A, Media Studies AS, Sociology AS,Travel and Tourism AS, and US History AS and A
• OPTIONAL Group 4: Thinking Skills AS, English General Paper AS

*Courses that may be used to fulfill either the Group 1 or Group 3 requirement, but not both.

Cambridge International Examinations

Students earn their seven AICE credits by passing end-of-year AICE examinations. Exams are administered to students in the June exam series (testing window is April-June). Students who need to retake an exam have the opportunity to do so in the November exam series (testing window is September-November). A student working towards the Cambridge International AICE Diploma may use up to five exam series to take the equivalent of seven examinations as long as they are taken within a 25-month period. Students may opt to begin the AICE Diploma program in their freshman, sophomore or junior year.

Students who begin their AICE Diploma program in their freshman year but do not achieve the AICE Diploma at the end of their junior year are encouraged to meet with Ms. Tamayo, Palm Beach Central’s AICE Coordinator, to discuss the best paths to earning the AICE Diploma at the end of their senior year.

Why Cambridge International?

Research attests to the benefits of participation in Cambridge International courses:

A study by Bill Kolb, former director of admissions at the University of Florida, found that Cambridge International Students attending the University of Florida had an average end-of-freshman year G.P.A. of 3.46 whereas students who came from other acceleration mechanisms like Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) had an average G.P.A. of 3.12 and 3.10 respectively.

A Cambridge / FSU Study regarding success in the US (titled Are Cambridge International Assessments Good Preparation for University Study?) outlines the success of Cambridge International students at Florida State University and how they are outperforming all other acceleration mechanisms including IB and AP.
https://www.marionschools.net/cms/lib/FL01903465/Centricity/domain/13/files/Cambridge%20Study.pdf

Regarding Cambridge USA Recognition, universities are speaking out on how prepared Cambridge International students are when they enter college. View the video of  "Leading Learning" to learn what representatives from Duke University and MIT have to say about the academic preparation Cambridge International provides students. https://vimeo.com/274667678

Cambridge International Contact:

Ms. Alexandra Lezark
Cambridge International Coordinator
Phone: (561) 433-7912

We welcome the opportunity to talk with interested families via phone or Google Meets. Please email me to schedule an appointment.

PBCHS Acceleration Packet
Diploma Planning Guide