AICE Program Overview

Belleview High School

10400 SE 36th Ave

Belleview, FL 34420

(352) 671-6210

http://bhsaice.org

Jeff Brewer

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• AICE first offered in the US in 1995, and officially adopted in Florida in 2001• AICE Diploma is awarded based on competence in six subjects; however,

students can be take and be awarded for individual subjects• Curriculum designed as preparation for college and university programs

Focus of AICE

• High academic standards• Flexibility to pursue areas of interest and strengths • International philosophy and approach (great emphasis on critical thinking)• Range of assessment techniques (multiple choice, oral exams, essay/extended

response, projects)• Recognition value (every public university in Florida, along with most major

colleges and universities in the U.S. and worldwide)

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 no have to follow traditional high school graduation plan

• Students who opt for part time AICE enrollment can use AICE courses to meet the new A++ Plan 4 credit major requirement

• Academically broad-based component of three 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• College level preparation• Exposure to different methods of assessment with emphasis on higher order

thinking skills and writing• Ability to direct student’s educational interests• International perspective necessary for tomorrow’s leaders• Ability to compete for admission to the most elite colleges and universities

Curriculum

AICE curriculum is designed for educational breadth, balance, and student

strengths. For educational breadth and balance, students must choose

and test in one full AICE level class from each of the following three groups

of study:

Group A: Mathematics and Sciences

Group B: Languages

Group C: Arts and Humanities

Students then must choose three additional AICE level classes from any

Area.

Group A - Mathematics and Sciences

• Biology• Chemistry• Environmental Management• Physics• Mathematics I & II• Thinking Skills I & II

Group B - Languages

• English Language• French Language• Spanish Language

Group C - Arts and Humanities

• Art & Design I & II• Economics• English Literature I & II• History (European, International

and United States)• Thinking Skills I & II• Psychology• Spanish Literature• French Literature• Music

Sample Course Schedules by Grade

• 9th Grade– Pre-AICE English Language– Pre-AICE Mathematics I– Pre-AICE Coordinated Science I– Pre-AICE Economics & American Government Honors– Foreign Language or Elective– Elective

• 10th Grade– Pre-AICE English Literature– Pre-AICE Mathematics II– Pre-AICE Coordinated Science II– AICE European History– Foreign Language or Elective– Elective

Sample Course Schedules by Grade

• 11th Grade– AICE English Language– AICE Mathematics I– AICE Science (student choice)– AICE U.S. History– Foreign Language or Elective– Elective

• 12th Grade– AICE English Literature– AICE Mathematics II– AICE Science (student choice)– AICE Social Studies (student choice)– Foreign Language or Elective– Elective

Course Sequence by Subject Area

English• Pre-AICE English Language – 9th grade

• Pre-AICE English Literature – 10th grade

• AICE English Language – 11th grade

• AICE English Literature I or I & II – 12th grade

Mathematics• Pre-AICE Math I (Algebra & Geometry) – 9th grade

• Pre-AICE Math II (Geometry & Algebra II) – 10th grade

• AICE Math I (Pre-Calculus and Mechanics or Statistics) – 11th grade

• AICE Math II (Calculus and Statistics or Mechanics) – 12th grade

Course Sequence by Subject Area

Science• Pre-AICE Coordinated Science I (Biology & Chemistry) – 9th grade

• Pre-AICE Coordinated Science II (Chemistry & Physics) – 10th grade

• AICE Biology / AICE Chemistry / AICE Physics / AICE Environmental Management – 11th or 12th grade

Social Studies• Pre-AICE Economics / American Government Honors – 9th grade

• AICE European History – 10th grade

• AICE US History – 11th grade

• AICE International History / AICE Economics / AICE Psychology – 12th grade

Course Sequence by Subject Area

AICE Electives• Pre-AICE Spanish I - 9th or 10th grade• Pre-AICE Spanish II – 10th or 11th grade• AICE Spanish Language – 11th or 12th grade• AICE Spanish Literature – 12th grade• Pre-AICE French I – 9th or 10th grade• Pre-AICE French II – 10th or 11th grade• AICE French Language – 11th or 12th grade• AICE French Literature – 12th grade• AICE Art & Design I (Ceramics or Photography) - 11th or 12th grade• AICE Art & Design II – 12th grade• Pre-AICE Drama – 9th or 10th grade• Pre-AICE Music – 9th or 10th grade• AICE Music – 11th or 12th grade• AICE Thinking Skills I – 11th or 12th grade• AICE Thinking Skills II – 12th grade

Why AICE?

• Broad, balanced academic program• Flexibility to pursue interests• Ability and time to develop strengths• Feeling of cohesiveness Internationally recognized program• State University System recognizes AICE• Bright Futures Scholarship Program recognizes AICE• Advanced classes with like-minded academically gifted students, but NOT

segregated from the whole academic environment• Ability to pursue non-academic interests (Applied Technology courses, athletics,

clubs, etc.)• Teachers are trained to deliver subject content by University of Cambridge Staff

Why AICE? (Continued)

• 2006 AICE Program Completers:– 45 students– All 45 earned either a 100% (24) or 75% (21) Bright Futures Scholarship– 15 Earned the AICE Diploma– Where did they go?

Baptist College – 1; Central Florida Community College – 5; Duke University – 1; Florida State University – 2; Indiana University – 1; Liberty University – 2; New College – 1; Samford University – 1; Sante Fe Community College – 1;University of Central Florida – 13; University of Florida – 12; University of North Florida – 2; University of Virginia – 1; U.S. National Cycling Team – 1; U.S. Navy Nuclear Program - 1

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.

Qualification Process

Students will be accepted based on the following criteria:– GPA from first half of eighth grade– Scores on the FCAT Reading and Math sections in seventh grade – Grade earned in the Math 3, Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 or Geometry in 8th

grade– Attendance and Discipline

Students may qualify to take some but not all of the Pre-AICE courses based on their grades and test scores.

Application Process

• Pick up application tonight before you leave• Complete each section of the application• Return application packet to either the middle school guidance office or

Belleview High School guidance office. • All students who apply will be contacted by mail

Questions ?