AICE PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Video
Belleview High School
10400 SE 36th Ave
Belleview, FL 34420
(352) 671-6210
http://www.marion.k12.fl.us/schools/bhs/aice.cfm
Principal: Mike Kelly
Assistant Principal: Sheila Gamoneda
AICE Coordinator: Jeff Brewer
Guidance Counselor: Debra Greer

What is AICE?

An international, pre-university program developed by the University of

Cambridge in England
Examinations have been offered for over 50 years in more than 150 countries
and 9000 schools (including 40+ HS in Florida)
AICE first offered in the US in 1995, and officially adopted in Florida in 2001
BHS became an official Centre in August of 2003
AICE Diploma is awarded based on competence in seven subjects; however,
students can take and be awarded for individual subjects
Curriculum designed as preparation for college and university programs

Over 9,000 schools

in 150 countries
The worlds largest provider
of 5-19 International
Qualifications

Over 2 million entries per

year

Focus of AICE

High academic standards

Flexibility to pursue areas of interest and strengths
Students Build College Ready Skills
Subject Area Knowledge
Learning Skills
Critical Thinking Skills
Problem Solving Skills
Recognition value (every public college and university in Florida, along with most
major colleges and universities in the U.S. and worldwide)
CIE Recognition Page - http://recognition.cie.org.uk/
FACTS.org - http://www.fldoe.org/articulation/pdf/ACC-CBE.pdf
UF - http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/ugrad/trapib.html

Uniqueness of AICE

State of Florida has adopted AICE as a graduation option just like International
Baccalaureate (IB)
Students who opt for full time AICE enrollment do not have to follow traditional
high school graduation plan
Academically broad-based component of four units
Additional flexibility to pursue areas of interest and strengths
Flexibility to add additional units to further pursue interests, goals and strengths

Benefits of AICE

Increased GPA
Additional ways to qualify for Bright Futures Scholarships
Possibility of earning college credit as early as your freshman year.
College level preparation
Exposure to different methods of assessment with emphasis on higher order
thinking skills and writing
Ability to direct students educational interests
International perspective necessary for tomorrows leaders
Ability to compete for admission to the most elite colleges and universities
You get to keep all High School credits you earned in Middle School

3 Main Goals
#1 Prepare students to be successful in college
#2 Earn an AICE diploma (receive Florida Bright Future Scholarship)
#3 Pass AICE Exams (earn college credit)

Jacob Holloway

National Merit Scholar recipient

2013 BHS Valedictorian
Passed 15 AICE Exams (4 A levels)
Received 45 credit hours from the University of Florida
Played Varsity Football, Basketball, and Baseball while at BHS
Current Florida Cicerone (official ambassador to the University of
Florida)
Treasurer of Sigma Chi fraternity
Member of UF honor college
Advisor for the college of engineering
Currently has a 3.86 GPA at the University of Florida

Curriculum
The Cambridge AICE Diploma is designed to deliver breadth across the curriculum and
depth in selected subjects. Learners have to achieve a minimum of seven credits from at
least three subject groupings and the core (Cambridge International AS Level Global
Perspectives) to be awarded the diploma.
Group 1: Mathematics and Science
Group 2: Languages
Group 3: Arts and Humanities
Group 4: Interdisciplinary and skills based subjects (optional)

Group 1 - Mathematics and Sciences

Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Management
Marine Science
Mathematics I & II
Physics
Psychology

Group 2 - Languages
English Language
Spanish Language

Group 3 - Arts and Humanities

Classical Studies
Divinity
English Literature I & II
European History
Psychology
Sociology I & II
Spanish Literature
U.S. History

Group 4 Interdisciplinary and skills based subjects

Thinking Skills I & II
General Paper

Sample Course Schedules by Grade

9th Grade

AICE General Paper

Pre-AICE Mathematics I, II or III (depending on Middle School Mathematics Course)
Pre-AICE Biology
Pre-AICE Global Perspectives
Foreign Language or Elective
Elective
Elective

10th Grade

AICE English Language I

Pre-AICE Mathematics II or III or AICE Mathematics I w/ Statistics
Pre-AICE Chemistry or Pre-AICE Physics
AICE European History
Foreign Language or Elective
Elective (AICE Thinking Skills)
Elective

Sample Schedule Continued

11th Grade

AICE English Language II

Pre-AICE Math III or AICE Mathematics I w/ Statistics or AICE Mathematics II w/ Mechanics
AICE Science (student choice)
AICE U.S. History
Global Perspectives
Foreign Language or Elective
Elective

12th Grade

AICE English Literature

AICE Mathematics I w/ Statistics or AICE Mathematics II w/ Mechanics or Dual Enrollment Math
AICE Science (student choice)
AICE Economics
Foreign Language or Elective
Elective
Elective

James Cowan

2014 BHS Valedictorian

Passed 16 AICE exams (4 A levels)
Received 45 credit hours from the University of Florida
President of the National Honors Society at BHS
A current member of the mock trial team at UF
A member of UFs honors college
3.91 GPA at the University of Florida

Why AICE?

Most importantly, BHS AICE students are prepared to enter college.

Over the past 8 years BHS has been listed in Newsweek s /Washington Posts Top Public High
Schools. Highest ranked in Marion County
Due to the successes of AICE at BHS, BHS has been awarded the distinction of being an
International Fellowship Centre for the University of Cambridge becoming just one of four schools in
the US and a handful more globally to receive the honor.
New Graduation Requirements for full time AICE students
Do not have to take Physical Education
Do not have to take Performing Arts
Flexibility to pursue interests
Ability and time to develop strengths
State University System recognizes AICE (See Credit By Examination Info)
Bright Futures Scholarship Program recognizes AICE

Why AICE? 2014 Testing Data

1139 Exams administered

607 Exams passed (58.6% overall pass rate)
1989 college credit hours earned (between AS and A level Exams)
That is nearly $500,000 worth of college credit.
87.6% (78 out of 89) of students earned an AICE diploma (receiving
Florida Academic Scholars level of Florida Bright Futures Scholarship)
That is approximately $1,000,000 worth of college education.
Last year less than 5% would have earned this scholarship without
an AICE diploma because of the extremely difficult test
requirements.

Why AICE? (Continued)

Colleges and universities look for students who take academically challenging
courses throughout high school.
Colleges and universities look for students who can demonstrate a directed
pursuit of academic study.
Colleges and universities look for students who show the kind of skills required
to complete the AICE diploma.
Bright Futures and other scholarship committees look for students who have
taken academically challenging coursework in five different subject areas.
Students rarely leave AICE at BHS to go to another local magnet program, we
are continually having students leave other local programs to join AICE at BHS.
(about 10 so far this year)
This shows that students and parents are satisfied with the education they
are receiving through AICE at BHS, and other students want that level of
preparation as well.

Katelin King

Howard Middle School

Vanguard High School I.B. Program 9th & 10th grade
Transferred into the BHS AICE program
Here to tell you why she prefers AICE

Luke Sylvia

Redeemer Christian Middle school

Trinity Catholic High School 9th and 10th grade
Transferred to BHS AICE in 11th grade
Earned the AICE diploma in 1 year.
Currently taking 2 AICE courses and 1 AP course at BHS as well as 2
dual enrollment courses at the college.

Common Parent Questions

Will my student get college credit for the work they do?
Yes. In Florida the DOE has established required minimums that ALL public schools in the
State must abide by. Schools outside of the State of Florida are all by their discretion.
For more specific information, you can use the CIE recognition data base to search schools you
may be interested in: http://recognition.cie.org.uk/
What about Florida Bright Futures?
Earning the AICE Diploma and completing 100 Community Service hours guarantees your
student will earn the highest award possible (Florida Academic Scholar).
If the student does not earn the AICE Diploma, they still get credit for taking advanced
coursework and can earn the scholarship by completing 100 Community Service Hours
AND earning a qualifying score on the SAT or ACT. However, their grade point average is
not used in the calculation.

2 common misconceptions about AICE

1. The AICE program is easier than the IB program.
Compared class to class that is not true. State Universities have said
they believe the AICE curriculum better prepares students for college
than any other program (which is the goal of a college prep program).
Our flexibility makes our program more manageable.
2. AICE credits are not accepted by Universities and Colleges.
Section 1007.27, Florida Statutes, requires all public colleges and
universities to award the minimum recommended credit for all AICE
exams.
You can check to see what universities world wide accept AICE credits
at www.recognition.cie.org.uk

What Universities are saying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtanZIQ-yA8

Bill Kolb (Former director of admissions at UF):

The study found that AICE program graduates attending the University of
Florida had an average end-of-freshman year GPA of 3.46 whereas
students coming from other acceleration mechanisms such as
Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) had an
average GPA of 3.12 and 3.10 respectively.