This year, OPS is offering Cambridge courses for languages, humanities, science and math across all nine high schools. Including Benson with this change comes the transition from AP to Cambridge courses being offered to students in starting their sophomore year.
The Cambridge AICE program originated at the University of Cambridge, located in England for students who wanted to study internationally for college and be internationally recognized with the help of a diploma. In the 1990s, the program gain traction in the U.S. from students who wanted to go to college outside of the U.S. thus prompting the program to expand outside of England.
“Omaha Public Schools has created a comprehensive advanced academics program across all 9 high schools, to allow families choice,” curriculum specialist Mary Reece said. “Benson, Bryan, South and Buena Vista offer the Cambridge AICE diploma.”
High schools within OPS had the cost of this transition covered by the district. “The cost of moving to Cambridge was a district expense,” Reece said. “I know they invested in training, materials and testing security measures.”
The Cambridge AICE program is a perfect opportunity for students in Benson who want to study internationally to get an internationally recognized diploma.
Even though Benson will be mainly offering Cambridge courses, there will still be a few AP courses that students can take. “We are making the transition to offer additional opportunities to our students. We will continue to offer some AP courses as well,” Reece said.
Here at Benson, the option to study internationally is not a choice the majority of this year’s seniors are planning to make for their future.
“There is one senior this year that plans to study in Mexico,” heath academy counselor Anne Dyke said.
Unfortunately, with how late this change is, the seniors who are interested in studying abroad this year cannot use the program to its fullest extent as they will not be able to complete the program fully.
With the help from OPS, Students at Benson that plan to study internationally for college now have the extra support they need to make this transition easier from the Cambridge AICE program and still get their college credits early on.
