For the first time in the school’s history, Pompano Beach High School will offer courses part of the Cambridge program, giving students the opportunity to pursue the prestigious AICE  (Advanced International Certificate of Education) Diploma.

The Cambridge Program allows students to take advanced classes for college credit through the University of Cambridge. Cambridge courses are weighted on a 6.0 scale, and are comparable academically to the AP (Advanced Placement) and IB (International Baccalaureate) programs. The requirements to obtain the Cambridge program’s AICE Diploma are to take seven Cambridge courses and exams over the course of three consecutive years, including passing the Global Perspectives course and exam. 

“The program itself is an accelerated program. It’s just giving opportunities to learn real skills in an international, global way so students are able to actually utilize those skill sets in the job force,” Assistant Principal Dr. Tameka King said.

Paired with 100 community service hours, the diploma satisfies the requirements to earn the highest level of the Bright Futures Scholarship, the Florida Academic Scholars Award, which covers 100% of tuition and applicable fees for Florida public universities. Earning the AICE Diploma exempts students from the scholarship’s SAT and GPA requirements.

“It’s an easy way to gain this huge honor,” King said.

Pompano currently offers two courses as part of the Cambridge program: Global Perspectives and English General Paper. Global Perspectives is a mandatory, skills-based elective for obtaining the AICE diploma that promotes critical thinking by analyzing and developing arguments and perspectives. English Global Paper builds learners’ ability to understand and write in English through the study of a broad range of contemporary topics. 

As of this year, Cambridge courses are only offered to freshmen. Pompano plans to expand its selection of Cambridge courses available to students in the upcoming school years.