High School Courses

For course selection, each school will have its own Curriculum Guide and Course Offerings Catalog. Check with your school for the latest edition. A listing of all course description for courses offered in Florida can be found on CPALMS, although not all courses are offered at each school. In addition, the Florida Department of Education lists all courses and changes in the Course Code Directory.

Students can keep track of their courses and plan a path towards graduation by using this Course Planning document.

ACCEL Legislation

Each school is required to advise each student of programs through which a high school student can earn college credit, including AP, IB, AICE, dual enrollment and early admission courses, career academy courses, and courses that lead to national industry certification, as well as the availability of course offerings through virtual instruction

Each high school must provide Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning (ACCEL) options. ACCEL options are educational options that provide academically challenging curriculum or accelerated instruction to eligible students such as:

Whole-grade and mid-year promotion
Enrichment programs
Subject-matter acceleration
Virtual Instruction in higher grade level subjects
Credit Acceleration Program (CAP)
Enriches science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) coursework.

Credit Acceleration Program (CAP)

Currently, a student may earn high school credit in Algebra I, Geometry, U.S. History or Biology I if the student passes the statewide, standardized end-of-course (EOC) assessment with a level 3 or higher without the requirement of enrolling in or completing the course.
A student is also allowed to earn high school credit in courses required for high school graduation through the passage of an Advanced Placement (AP) examination or a College Level Examination Program (CLEP). A grade of “T” is recorded on the transcript.

HONORS

Honors courses are offered in most subjects for students wishing to pursue a more rigorous course of study. Placement in these courses is based upon many factors including previous academic record and standardized test results. All students are strongly urged to challenge themselves by attempting Honors courses. Honors courses also include Pre-AICE, Pre-IB, IB MYP and Pre-AP courses.

LOCAL HONORS

Each year, Broward County high schools have the opportunity to apply for Local Designation of Honors for any course that the State Course Directory does not recognize as honors. Any course that was approved, as a local honors course will have a local honors designation of “LH” added to the district course code title. If the District has designated a course as “Local Honors”, it is because it contains rigor that supports the awarding of an extra quality point towards the District’s weighted grade point average (GPA), which is used for class rank. These courses however, are not considered “honors” for State University Admissions, NCAA Clearinghouse Eligibility, or for Bright Futures Scholarship purposes and will not be awarded the extra quality point in these programs’ recalculated GPAs.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)

The Advanced Placement Program consists of over 37 college level courses and exams across 22 subject areas that are offered at high schools. Courses are available in several subject areas from art to statistics. Participation in AP courses gives students an excellent preparation for college and university studies. Successful completion of the course and receipt of a qualifying score on the national AP exam may result in college credit or advanced placement in college courses at many colleges and universities.

Advanced Placement courses are offered to all interested and qualified students wishing to pursue the most rigorous course of study. The prerequisites vary according to each discipline. Students who select an AP course are expected to complete the course and sit for the AP Exam. Students who do not sit for the AP exam will forfeit one extra quality point in the calculation of the district weighted gpa.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program is an accelerated four-year liberal arts curriculum designed to meet the needs of the highly motivated and academically talented student. The IB Program is intensive, offering an accelerated curriculum for ninth and tenth grade students to prepare them for the rigors of the IB Program in the eleventh and twelfth grades. Students who receive the prestigious IB diploma are held in the highest esteem by universities throughout the world. Florida IB diploma recipients are eligible for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and are often admitted as sophomores into the Florida university system, as well as other internationally recognized universities.

ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (AICE)

The Cambridge International Program prepares students for college and careers by offering a curriculum of rigor that is recognized internationally, preparing them for post-secondary coursework, and allowing the opportunity for students to earn college credits while in high school. The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) courses will allow our students the opportunity to earn the International AICE diploma, an internationally renowned special diploma that is recognized by colleges and universities all over the world.

DUAL ENROLLMENT (DE)

Dual enrollment is an acceleration program that allows high school students to simultaneously earn credit toward high school completion and a career certificate or an associate or baccalaureate degree at a Florida public postsecondary institution. High school students who meet program requirements may concurrently enroll in courses that are creditable toward a post-secondary certificate, Associate’s degree, or Bachelor’s degree at technical college, Broward College, and FAU, FIU or UF online.

Students must meet the following requirements for Broward College Dual Enrollment:

Earn a minimum 3.0 unweighted grade point average prior to enrollment.
Obtain approval from parent and from the high school principal.
Obtain minimum ACT, SAT or PERT placement scores prior to enrollment.
Select courses from the approved list
Satisfy any required prerequisites.
Maintain a 3.0 unweighted GPA in high school coursework and a 2.0 college GPA in order to continue in the program.
The 3.0 high school GPA is inclusive of any Dual Enrollment college courses taken.
Conform to all School Board and post-secondary institution policies and procedures.

Three-credit (or equivalent) postsecondary courses taken through dual enrollment that are not listed on the FLORIDA DOE DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSE – HIGH SCHOOL SUBJECT AREA EQUIVALENCY LIST shall be awarded 0.5 high school credit, either as an elective or as designated in the local interinstitutional articulation agreement. NOTE: Most three credit hour dual enrollment courses equate to one-half (.5) high school credit, but some three and four credit hour dual enrollment courses equate to one (1.0) high school credit.

For the Fall and Spring:

6th through 10th grade students can take ONE class each semester at BC, FAU, or UF Online. They can take the class on the high school campus or on the college campus.
11th grade students can take a total of two classes each semester. HOWEVER....
- Students can only take a MAXIMUM of ONE class each semester on the BC campus, online through BC, on the FAU campus, online at FAU, or online at UF.
- Students can take the second DE course on your high school campus if you offer DE courses on your high school campus.

12th grade students can take a total of three classes each semester. HOWEVER....
- Students can only take a MXIMUM of TWO classes each semester on the BC campus, online through BC, on the FAU campus, online at FAU, or online at UF.
- Students can take the third DE course on your high school campus if you offer DE courses on your high school campus.

For Summer:

Current 6th through 11th grade students can take ONE class during the summer at Broward College.

EARLY ADMISSIONS PROGRAM (EA)

Early admission is another form of dual enrollment through which eligible students enroll in an eligible college on a full-time basis during the last year of high school. Both high school and college credit will be awarded when attending colleges where an articulation agreement in is force.

Students must meet the following requirements:

Must be entering the last year of high school based upon declared graduation date prior to enrollment
Must complete all graduation requirements with the exception of those requirements that can be met in the last year of high school prior to enrollment in early admission
Must be enrolled in a Broward County public high school at least one semester prior to seeking early admission
Earn a minimum 3.0 unweighted grade point average prior to enrollment
Must be accepted by a post-secondary institution authorized by Florida law or accredited
Obtain approval from the high school principal and parent
Select appropriate courses to satisfy graduation requirements
Maintain a 2.0 GPA in college coursework in order to continue in the program
Conform to all School Board and post-secondary institution policies and procedures

CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE)

Through Career and Technical Education programs of study, students graduate from high school academically and technologically prepared for postsecondary education/college and to begin their career. Students who select a career and technical education program and who successfully complete the prescribed sequence of courses will have the opportunity to work towards:

A diploma that includes high rigor academics and a career and technical education (CTE) program of study, with work-based experiences through an internship, O-J-T (On the Job Training), clinical rotations, or job shadowing.
The award of a technical program certificate.
Articulated postsecondary/college credits at recognized institutions of higher learning that will save students time and money in the pursuit of their post-secondary education.
One or more credentials/licenses recognized by business and industry.
The Florida Bright Futures/Gold Seal or CAPE Scholarship Award.

Students who earn a Gold Standard Industry Certification, also earn articulated credits to the state colleges. Below is a link to the gold standard website. For a list of Gold Standard Industry Certifications go here.

CREDIT RECOVERY COURSES (CR)

Credit Recovery courses are credit bearing courses with specific content requirements. Students enrolled in a Credit Recovery course must have previously attempted the corresponding course. Credit Recovery courses should only be used for credit recovery, grade forgiveness, or remediation for students needing to prepare for an End-of-Course assessment retake.

IMPORTANT: Students who take credit recovery courses cannot use those courses for eligibility in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse.

BROWARD/FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL (BVS/FLVS)

Broward and Florida Virtual School (BVS/FLVS) offers full-time and part-time enrollment to students in grades K-12 through an online educational delivery system. BVS offers equitable access to high quality, individualized education, through the internet and other distance learning technologies where students have the opportunity to earn a standard high school diploma entirely online. Students must meet eligibility criteria.

The virtual environment provides flexibility of time and location. Students may learn wherever they are, whenever they choose, maintaining a specified course pace. Successful online students are self-disciplined, motivated to learn, possess time management skills, and 21st century technology skills. For course offerings please visit www.flvs.net.

Students wishing to take online courses should speak to their school counselor.

CO-ENROLLMENT COURSES (NIGHT SCHOOL)

High school students who are deficient in credits needed to graduate, or who need to improve their cumulative grade point average in order to meet graduation requirements, may take up to two courses per year while co-enrolled in an adult secondary education program.

The student must be deficient in the credits required for graduation.
The student must be attempting a full load of required credits at the home high school during the co-enrollment period.
The student must have written authorization for entrance into each course in the co-enrollment program from the home school principal (or designee).
The student's credit deficiencies have not resulted from an intentional, willful neglect of studies as determined by the principal (or designee).

Important Information

High School Courses for State University System (SUS) Admissions and Bright Futures Scholarship Eligibility:

Certain high school courses will count towards the 18 required courses needed for Florida State University Admissions.

High School Courses that will Count for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Not all high school courses will count towards meeting the NCAA requirements for athletic eligibility in college. You can go here to see which courses will count towards NCAA eligibility

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