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Advanced Studies Program
🌟 TCHS Advanced Studies Program 🌟
Mrs. Abromavage, Advanced Studies Coordinator
The TCHS Advanced Studies Program is a structured academic path designed for academically talented and highly motivated students who aim to earn a prestigious academic diploma. Students select one of two diploma tracks after their 9th grade year:
- Cambridge AICE Diploma Program
- AP Capstone Diploma Program
Program Structure
- 9th Grade Cohort: All incoming students begin by taking a foundational year, enrolling in one Cambridge AICE course (AICE English General Paper) and one College Board AP course (AP World History) during their freshman year.
- Diploma Selection: Students formally decide which diploma track (AICE or AP Capstone) they will pursue during school-wide registration during their 9th-grade year.
📋Application
The application is for incoming 9th grade students (class of 2030).
- Advanced Studies Program Application
- · Students who submit their application by March 12, 2026 deadline will receive an admission decision by the end of March.
- · Applications received after the deadline will be considered under rolling admission, with decisions made based on program space availability.
📝 Application Requirements
- GPA: Minimum 3.5 unweighted middle school GPA.
- Math Prerequisite: Students must have successfully completed and passed Algebra 1 prior to entering 9th grade.
- Assessment Scores:
- Passing score (Level 3 or higher) on the FAST ELA Assessment.
- Passing score (Level 3 or higher) on the Algebra 1 End-of-Course (EOC) exam. (Students currently enrolled in Algebra 1 must submit a passing FAST Math score).
- Homeschool or private school students entering TCHS must submit comparable standardized test scores for consideration.
Enrollment Eligibility
- Residency: The TCHS Advanced Studies Program is a not magnet program. Applicants must be currently zoned for Timber Creek High School to be eligible.
💡 Academic Benefits and Opportunities
|
Benefit |
Description |
|---|---|
|
College Credit and Advanced Standing |
Both programs allow students to earn transferable college credits and/or advanced course placement at colleges and universities by successfully passing the corresponding AICE or AP examinations. |
|
College Competitiveness |
Graduating with the official Cambridge AICE Diploma or AP Capstone Diploma designation significantly increases student competitiveness in the college application process. |
|
Florida Scholarship Eligibility |
Currently, students who successfully complete either the Cambridge AICE Diploma or the AP Capstone Diploma, and complete 100 documented service hours during high school, automatically qualify for the Florida Academic Scholars tuition scholarship. This eligibility is secured regardless of their unweighted GPA or college entrance exam scores. |
|
Dual Enrollment |
Students enrolled in the Advanced Studies Program also have the opportunity to take Dual Enrollment (DE) courses as their schedule and DE requirements permit. |
🔗 Key Program Websites and Resources
|
Program/Resource |
Organization |
|---|---|
|
College Board |
|
|
Cambridge Assessment International Education |
|
|
College Board |
|
|
College Board |
💡 Cambridge AICE Diploma Program: A Quick Overview
The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma is an internationally recognized, rigorous academic program offered through Cambridge Assessment International Education, a division of the University of Cambridge, England.
It is designed for high school students to provide a broad and balanced study at college level and emphasizes developing critical thinking and research skills.
Structure: To earn the AICE Diploma, students must successfully complete a minimum of seven credits by passing the associated Cambridge exams for the courses below.
Cambridge International Website
Program Requirements:
|
9th Grade |
10th Grade |
11th Grade |
|
AICE English General Paper |
AICE English Language |
AICE English Literature |
|
|
AICE European History
|
AICE Global Perspectives Required |
|
|
AICE Environmental Management |
AICE Marine Science |
AICE does not allow for ANY makeup exams in the same series (testing window). You cannot miss the published exam date.
📝 Cambridge AICE Exams and College Credit Policy
Cambridge AICE courses are considered college-level studies. Students who successfully pass these examinations may receive college credit or advanced course placement based on their scores.
- Florida Universities: All public universities and colleges in Florida accept passing AICE scores for college credit.
- US Universities: Universities across the United States award credit for AICE exams. However, each US university sets its own specific policy.
Important Note for Students:
Students are strongly advised to directly contact the admissions office or view the website of their university of interest. They should specifically inquire about the institution's credit-by-examination policy for GCE/International AS & A Levels (also known as "Cambridge AICE" exams). College credit is typically awarded based on the specific subject and the grade earned on the exam.
🎓 AP Capstone Diploma Program: A Quick Overview
The AP Capstone Diploma Program, developed by the College Board, is a rigorous, two-year sequence of courses designed for high school students to gain essential college-level critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills. This program equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. It cultivates curious, independent, and collaborative scholars and prepares them to make logical, evidence-based decisions. AP Capstone is comprised of two AP courses — AP Seminar and AP Research — and is designed to complement and enhance the discipline-specific study in other AP courses.
Unlike traditional AP courses that focus on subject-specific content (like AP U.S. History or AP Biology), Capstone is interdisciplinary and focuses on skills that can be applied across all subjects.
Earn one exam credit from three (3) of the four core groups below + one (1) exam of student choice + two (2) from Required Courses.
AP Capstone Diploma: Academic Options for Core Groups
Below are the course options for the class of 2029 and beyond to earn the AP Capstone Diploma.
📚 College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Program
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program, administered by the College Board, offers college-level courses and corresponding exams to high school students. The primary goal is to provide academic rigor and the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced standing before starting university.
Advanced Placement College Board Website
Key Features and Benefits
- College-Level Curriculum: AP courses are modeled after comparable introductory college courses and cover a wide range of subjects, including Mathematics, Sciences, History, English, World Languages, and Arts.
- AP Exams: Each course culminates in a standardized AP Exam, administered in May.
- Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5.
- A score of 3 or higher is generally considered a passing grade and is often accepted by colleges and universities for course credit or advanced placement (allowing the student to skip introductory college courses).
- College Admissions Edge: Taking AP courses demonstrates to college admissions officers that a student is willing and able to handle rigorous, challenging academic work, which can significantly enhance a college application.
- Time and Cost Savings: Successfully earning college credit through AP exams can reduce the total number of classes a student needs to take in college, potentially leading to lower tuition costs and an earlier graduation date.
📝 College Board AP Courses and College Credit
College Board Advanced Placement (AP) courses are recognized as college-level studies. Students who successfully pass the AP examinations may receive college credit or advanced course placement based on their scores.
- Recognition: AP credits are accepted by universities across the United States and by all public universities and colleges in Florida.
Checking Credit Policies
Students can easily determine how a specific university accepts AP scores by using the official online tool:
- Resource: AP Credit Policy Search
- Website: College Board
All Florida public state colleges and universities award credit for AP scores of 3 or higher. Universities across the United States award credit for AP exams. However, each US university sets its own specific policy.
🧑🎓 Here is a breakdown of the key differences:
The Cambridge AICE Diploma Program and the College Board AP Capstone Diploma Program are both rigorous, internationally recognized high school programs, but they differ in their curriculum structure, assessment style, and academic philosophy.
Cambridge AICE Diploma 🆚 AP Capstone Diploma
|
Feature |
Cambridge AICE Diploma Program |
AP Capstone Diploma Program |
|---|---|---|
|
Organization |
Cambridge Assessment International Education (University of Cambridge, UK) |
College Board (USA) |
|
Primary Goal |
Broad Study across multiple subject groups (Humanities, Sciences, Languages) to ensure curriculum range. |
Advanced Research Skills and interdisciplinary critical thinking to ensure skill depth. |
|
Required Courses |
Minimum 7 credits (exams) from 4 curriculum groups, including the mandatory AS Level Global Perspectives & Research. |
Minimum 6 credits (exams) with a sequence of 2 mandatory courses: AP Seminar (Year 1) and AP Research (Year 2) and 4 other required AP courses. |
|
Course Requirements |
Must pass exams from a mix of subjects across three different subject groups (Science, English Language, History). |
Must pass the 2 Capstone courses plus four additional, separate AP exams of the student's choosing (a total of 6 AP exam scores). |
|
Assessment Style |
Primarily written, essay-based, and modular exams (multiple papers/components). No multiple-choice sections. |
Primarily Performance-Based Assessments (PBAs) and academic papers in the Capstone courses. The AP courses will be a mix of multiple choice and FRQ. |
|
Global Recognition |
Recognized internationally, particularly in the UK, Europe, and Asia, as it is based on the British education system. |
Recognized in the United States; growing international recognition, but less common than AICE outside the U.S. |
📜 Summary:
- AICE is focused on ensuring a broad, international curriculum through a mandatory distribution of subject exams (Science, English Language, History). The Global Perspectives course focuses on broad, global issues.
- AP Capstone is focused on developing advanced, college-level research, analysis, and communication skills. The diploma is awarded for demonstrating these skills across the two core Capstone courses and achieving qualifying scores in four other subject AP exams.
🎯 Which Program is Right for You?
All 9th-grade students enroll in a foundational year, taking one AP course and one AICE course. This allows students to experience both curricula and determine the best fit before making a final decision on their diploma track.
Students and parents are strongly encouraged to review the available courses and options to ensure the chosen program aligns with the student's long-term academic and career goals.
🐺 Program Contact
For questions regarding the Advanced Studies Programs, please contact:
- Advanced Studies Coordinator: Mrs. Abromavage
- Email: Dorothea.Abromavage@ocps.net
For questions regarding other academic matters, including course progressions, course registration, or Dual Enrollment, please contact your student's school counselor.
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