INDIANA — As part of Indiana’s focus on expanding skills to support workforce and post-secondary readiness, Dr. Katie Jenner and the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) announced the first schools approved to participate in a Cambridge International Education (Cambridge) pilot. These schools will implement Cambridge courses with a particular emphasis on math, science, and quantitative reasoning. With passing Cambridge scores, participating students will also have the opportunity to earn college credit and qualify for the Honors Enrollment Plus Seal.
“Indiana’s future depends on how well we prepare students for the real demands of college and the workforce,” said Chairman Bob Behning, Indiana State Representative and Chair of the House Education Committee. “This pilot reflects our commitment to building rigorous, flexible pathways that develop strong academic foundations alongside the transferable skills students need to succeed in a changing economy.”
The following schools have been approved to participate in the first round of the Cambridge pilot, and more are expected to be approved for future rounds when the grant is anticipated to reopen this spring:
- Al Haqq Foundation Academy (Charter)
- East Chicago High School (School City of East Chicago)
- Geo Academies – Indianapolis (Charter)
- North Central High School (MSD Washington Twp)
- Terre Haute High School (Vigo County School Corporation)
- Whiteland High School (Clark-Pleasant Community Schools)
As part of the statewide agreement, IDOE will allocate up to $500,000 next year to support Cambridge course implementation in participating schools and provide incentives tied to student completion of the Cambridge (Advanced International Certificate of Education) AICE Diploma. The state also covers the cost of up to three Cambridge exams per student, reducing financial barriers for families and expanding access to real-world skills and advanced academic credentials, helping Indiana students become future-ready for what comes next after graduation.
The pilot also offers a more accessible pathway to the Honors Enrollment Plus Seal for students pursuing college pathways. The Cambridge AICE Diploma serves as one of the qualifying academic credentials students may use to meet the seal’s advanced academic requirements. Students who earn the seal are guaranteed automatic admission into all seven of Indiana’s public colleges and universities.
The Cambridge PreK-12 Pathway is designed to expand access to rigorous coursework and college and career readiness that includes:
- College-level mathematics and science courses aligned to international benchmarks
- External, standards-based assessments that measure subject mastery
- Opportunities to earn transferable college credit while still in high school
This structure supports Indiana’s goal of shifting high school completion from seat-time requirements toward demonstrated academic competence and postsecondary readiness, particularly in STEM fields.
“Indiana’s diploma reforms are fundamentally about alignment, aligning high school learning with the real expectations of college and the workplace,” said Mark Cavone, Regional Director, North America for International Education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. “This pilot gives schools a structured, assessment-based pathway that emphasizes depth in math and science while keeping students on track for postsecondary and career success with opportunities to earn college credit and durable, lifelong skills.”
The Cambridge announcement represents only the first phase of statewide implementation. Additional application windows for the Cambridge International Math and Science Grant will open and several schools have already expressed eager interest. This will allow more schools to participate as Indiana continues to expand its graduation, advanced academic, and workforce readiness pathways.
IDOE will monitor student outcomes and school implementation to inform future growth and the program’s long-term integration across the state.
