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WHS Advanced Curriculum

Open House

9/3/26

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Cambridge Advanced�AS & A Level Courses

An introduction for parents and students

Mierka C. Drucker, M.Ed

Cambridge Assessment Coordinator and Exam Officer

Mierka.drucker@palmbeachschools.org

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Any questions?

?

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Florida Bright Futures Scholarship (FAS)

Standard Path for FAS

Without AICE Diploma or AP Capstone

school

Academic GPA

3.5 GPA required

assignment

College Exam Scores

(starting 2028)

1350 SAT or 29 ACT

favorite

Service or Work

100 Hours of Community Service or 100 Work Hours

AICE/AP Capstone Diploma Path

With AICE Diploma Award and AP Capstone Award

done

Academic GPA

WAIVED

done

College Exam Scores

WAIVED

star

Service or Work Required

100 Hours of Community Service or 100 Work Hours still required

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High School Requirements At-a-Glance

4 credits of English/Language Arts (ELA)
4 credits of Math (Including Algebra I & Geometry)
3+ credits of Science (Including Biology & a Physical Science, 3 years in HS)
1 credit of World History
1 credit of U.S. History
0.5 credit of American Government
0.5 credit of Economics
0.5 Personal Financial Literacy
1 Physical Education/Personal Fitness
1 credit of Performing and Fine Arts
8 Electives total

24 Credits TOTAL

2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA)

20+ Community Service Hours (100 recommended)

2.0 GPA

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What is the AICE Diploma?

AICE Stands For:

A

Advanced

I

International

C

Certificate

E

of Education

The AICE Diploma Award

school

Not a Replacement

This is an additional award and does not replace the standard high school diploma.

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Credits Required

Students must still complete all standard required credits to graduate high school.

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AICE Diploma Requirements

Group 1: Science & Math

At least one point

Group 2: Languages

At least one point

Group 3: Arts and Humanities

At least one point

Group 4: Interdisciplinary Skills-Based Courses

Optional: Max of 2 points

Core: AS Global Perspectives & Research

Required: 1 point

4 Required

+

3 Choice =

7 points

Earning the AICE International Diploma

¨ To earn the AICE Diploma, candidates must take SEVEN courses and pass all seven exams:

¨ One exam from Groups 1, 2, and 3

¨ AS Global Perspectives

¨ Three additional Cambridge courses of their choosing from any Group

¨ Group 4 credits are NOT required for the AICE Diploma, but may be school prerequisites

¨ Only two AICE Diploma points may come from Group 4 unless student passes AL Thinking Skills and AL Global Perspectives & Research, then they may use those three

¨ All SEVEN courses must be completed within three school years (a 25 month period)

¨ Students may apply for their AICE Diploma in 11th or 12th grade, depending on when they start courses or if they need to retake exams they have not passed

¨ There are NO MAKE-UP dates for any Cambridge AICE exams

¨ WCHS pays for each exam of a class in which students are enrolled and their first attempt at the AICE Diploma

¨ A student who does not pass an exam may pay $105 for a retake in the NEXT testing session

¨ A student who does not fulfil the AICE Diploma requirements in their first attempt may pay for $120 in the NEXT testing session, as long as they sit for an exam that session as well

¨ Students may choose to take Cambridge courses in addition to the seven required for the AICE Diploma

¨ Students may opt out of an exam, but by not sitting for the exam their HPA credit will be dropped to Honors for the course and they will be removed from the class at the start of the next semester, if not immediately

¨ AICE Diploma candidates who complete the ENTIRE seven course curriculum and sit for all seven exams are exempt from the online course, Fine Arts, and P.E. requirements for graduation.

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Positive Changes to AICE Diploma

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Cambridge Courses at WCHS

Group 1: Math and Science (Must have 1pt)	Groups 2: Language (Must have 1pt)	Group 3: Arts and Humanities (Must have 1pt)	Group 4: Interdisciplinary (Optional MAX 2pts)	Core: Mandatory Research (Must have 1pt)
AS Marine Science A Marine Science	AS English Language	AS International History AS US History	AS English General Paper	AS Global Perspectives & Research (Required)
AS Environmental Management	AS Spanish Language	AS Drama A Drama AS Digital Design & Media A Digital Design & Media	A Global Perspectives & Research (Only after AS GPR)
AS Psychology	AS French Language	AS Classical Studies A Classical Studies A Spanish Lang. & Lit.
		AS Media Studies A Media Studies AS Literature in English A Literature in English
		AS Travel & Tourism AS Business

Subject Areas

Courses

Mathematics and Science

Environmental Management*, Marine Science*, Mathematics, Psychology, AS Biology

Language

English Language*, Spanish Language, French Language

Arts and Humanities

Art and Design: Painting and Other Media, Art and Design: Photography, Business Studies, Classical Studies I, Classical Studies II, Geography, Literature in English*, Modern European History*, Music, Psychology I, Psychology II, Sociology, Spanish Literature, Travel and Tourism, U.S. History*

Interdisciplinary and Skills-based Subjects

Thinking Skills, General Paper*, Global Perspectives AL**

CORE

AS Global Perspectives

*These courses meet course requirements as noted in the curriculum guide.

**Global Perspectives becomes a requirement for the AICE Diploma in June of 2017.

The suggested course of study for incoming freshmen is General Paper (which meets the English I requirement for graduation) along with one AICE elective like Classical Studies I or Geography.

*AICE Diploma candidates may currently waive HOPE and the virtual course requirement set by the DOE as long as they attempt the required exams.

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National and International Recognition

Cambridge qualifications are accepted at over 1400 institutions across 195 countries, including top ranking universities around the world and especially in the United States, not just Florida. w ww.cambridgeinternational.org/recognition

Cambridge qualifications are accepted at over 1400 institutions across 195 countries, including the top ranking universities around the world that you can see on this slide.
Cambridge students can be confident that their qualifications will be understood and valued throughout their education and career, in their home country and internationally.
Students use Cambridge International AS & A Levels to gain places at leading universities worldwide including in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain.
Cambridge International AS & A Levels are accepted for entrance to all UK universities.
In places such as the United States and Canada, good grades in carefully chosen Cambridge International A Level subjects can result in up to one year of university course credit.
Over 500 US universities accept Cambridge International AS & A Levels, including all Ivy League and Ivy Plus universities. These universities include Brown, Harvard, MIT, Stanford and Yale.
For more information about recognition of Cambridge qualifications, including a database of institutions that accept them, go to www.cambridgeinternational.org/recognition where you will find a recognition database listing all the universities and higher education institutions that recognise Cambridge qualifications.
It is easy to search the database to find university entry criteria - you can search by country and by qualification.

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Global Community

Connect with Cambridge students from around the world via Facebook. Look for Cambridge Assessment International Education

Follow @CambridgeInt on Twitter for all the latest news and educational debate

Bringing our Cambridge Pathway to life, our videos are for students, parents and teachers. Look for CambridgeSchools on YouTube

Keep up to date with all the latest news from Cambridge on the Cambridge Assessment International Education page on Linkedin

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Learn More!

Email Ms. Drucker:

Mierka.drucker@palmbeachschools.org

Email Ms. Dominique:

Magda.dominique@palmbeachschools.org

Visit our school website:

https://welh.palmbeachschools.org/

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Advanced Placement Coordinators

Lee Tanton - AP Coordinator and Dean/Counselor

lee.tanton@palmbeachschools.org

John Rejc - Single School Culture Assistant Principal

john.rejc@palmbeachschools.org

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Stronger academic signals improve student college admissions results

85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student's AP experience favorably impacts admissions.

What Stays in Place

• Current enrollment

• Experienced teachers

• Advanced coursework

• Master schedule space

• Departmental expertise

What Becomes Stronger

• Visibility of rigor

• Alignment with college expectations

• Expanded credit/placement opportunities

How the School Benefits

• Stronger recognition in college admissions

• More favorable college-going story

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calculate Math & Computer

• AP Pre-Calculus

• Calculus AB/BC

• Statistics

• Computer Science A

• Computer Science Principles

science Sciences

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Physics

• Environmental Sci.

paletteArts & English

• English Literature

• Art & 2-D Design

• Music Theory

gavelSocial Studies & Capstone

• American Gov.

• Economics

• AP Capstone Seminar

• AP Capstone Research

Advance Placement Coordinator: Lee Tanton emaillee.tanton@palmbeachschools.org

Advanced Placement Courses

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AP Courses That Meet FL Graduation Requirements

menu_book

English

1001420�AP English Language and Composition

1001430�AP English Literature and Composition

calculate

Mathematics

0200320�AP Computer Science A

0200335�AP Computer Science Principles

1202305�AP Precalculus

1202310�AP Calculus AB

1202320�AP Calculus BC

1210320�AP Statistics

science

Science

2000340�AP Biology

2001380�AP Environmental Science

2003370�AP Chemistry

2003421�AP Physics 1

2003422�AP Physics 2

2003430�AP Physics C: Mechanics

2003425�AP Physics C: Elec. & Magnetism

public

Social Science

2106420�AP U.S. Government and Politics

2100330�AP United States History

2102360�AP Microeconomics

2102370�AP Macroeconomics

2109380�AP European History

2109420�AP World History: Modern

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Global community

Keep up to date with all the latest news and information by following The College Board on Facebook

Follow @APforStudents on Twitter for all the latest information and happenings.

For additional resources for AP and many other college related topics, look for The College Board on YouTube

For further information on AP and many other topics, follow @collegeboard on Instagram

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Spire Dual Distinction Scholar Program

Designed for the Highest Performing Students

Qualified Students will be Invited to Join at the end of 9th Grade

school

Earn Dual Diploma Awards

Earn AICE Diploma & AP Capstone Diploma simultaneously

speed

Faster Pacing

Accelerated curriculum designed for advanced academic growth

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Students Must Meet Strict Criteria in 9th Grade

PSAT score, Grade Requirements, Must be enrolled in AICE and AP classes during 9th grade

The Spire Dual Distinction Scholar Program combines the two programs to allow for the top achieving students in the school to have the opportunity to achieve both AICE Diploma and the AP Capstone Diploma at the same time. This program is by invitation only.

Students must
2 or more AICE/AP courses in 9th grade (i.e. AICE EGP and AP Computer Science Principles, or AICE EGP and AICE Classical Studies, or AICE EGP and AP Human Geo, etc.) - If students are in an Academy or taking high level science, teacher recommendations can waive the 2nd requirement
Current year 4.0 GPA in 9th grade
Straight A’s in all classes, not just semesters - if all semesters are A’s and there is 1 B, we ask for recommendation
1020 on 9th grade PSAT - If 990-1020, and meet all other requirements, teacher recommendations required
At least Geometry Honors in 9th grade
4’s and 5’s on all state and local assessments
No attendance issues
Teacher recommendation if needed - any student who meets all but 1 of these requirements
Students must be invited to participate

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Any questions?

?