Palm Beach Maritime Academy

This is our first year offering the Cambridge AICE Diploma Program for scholars in grades 9 through 12, and the response from our families has been overwhelming. AICE is an international, college-level curriculum from Cambridge International Education, part of the University of Cambridge, and it is built to be a balanced, rigorous course of study rather than a single subject test.

We have been so encouraged by this first year that we are already planning to expand AICE coursework down into middle school starting next school year. That means even more of our scholars will get an early start on the kind of rigor that pays off long after they leave us.

To earn the full AICE Diploma, a scholar needs to pass a combination of Cambridge AS Level and A Level exams across three years, adding up to at least 7 credits spread across these areas:

• Global Perspectives and Research, a required core course
• Mathematics and Sciences, such as biology, math, or psychology
• Languages, such as English, Spanish, or French
• Arts and Humanities, such as history, business, or economics
• Additional interdisciplinary or skills-based credits

Passing these exams can earn scholars real college credit and advanced placement at universities across the country and around the world, the same way AP or IB coursework does. For our Florida families, there is an added bonus. A scholar who earns the AICE Diploma alongside 100 hours of community service automatically qualifies for the top tier of the Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholars Award, one of the strongest college scholarships our state offers.

Our partnership with Palm Beach State College gives PBMA high schoolers a second path to earn college credit before graduation. Scholars enroll in real college courses, taught to the same standard as any other Palm Beach State College class, and the credit they earn transfers just like it would for any college student. But there is no tuition bill waiting at the end.

Here is what that looks like for our families:

• Real college-level coursework, taught by qualified instructors
• Transferable credit accepted at colleges and universities across Florida
• Zero cost to families for tuition, books, or fees
• Courses built into the PBMA school day

Last year, one of our own scholars graduated from PBMA with a high school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree at the same time. Two diplomas, earned side by side, at zero cost to the family. That is the kind of outcome we built this program to create, and we cannot wait to see more scholars follow that same path.

If your scholar is already with us, the best next step is a conversation with a PBMA guidance counselor about which AICE or dual enrollment courses fit their goals. Counselors can walk your family through course sequencing year by year, so your scholar is on track well before senior year arrives.

If you are exploring PBMA for the first time, schedule a tour to see AICE and dual enrollment classrooms in action, or apply for the 2027-28 school year to give your scholar the same head start.

We would rather show you than tell you. Schedule a tour and see our campus culture firsthand, or enroll for the 2026-27 school year if you are ready to make the move. You can also read more about our full range of support services for students and families.