Florida Requirements for Passing High School Chemistry | General Chemistry 1

How Many Science Credits Do You Need to Graduate High School in Florida?

Florida law provides students the right to choose a high school diploma option: 
•  4-year (24  credit) standard high school diploma 
•  18 credit ACCEL Diploma 
•  Career and Technical Education Pathway 
•  Complete AICE Curriculum 
•  Complete IB Curriculum 

Florida state high school graduation requirements state that students must successfully complete three (3) credits in science, however, one (1) credit is required in biology, specifically. The requirements also stipulate that two (2) of the three (3) required credits have a laboratory component where students can learn lab skills that transfer to post-secondary courses. 

Florida is one of only a handful of states that chooses not to participate in the Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for high school students. Instead, Florida has adopted a unique set of curriculum standards with a heavy focus on language arts and math. However, for students who are seeking a scholar diploma, in addition to meeting the 24-credit standard high school diploma requirements, a student must also earn 1 credit in chemistry or physics. 

 

AICE  Curriculum 

The Cambridge AICE Diploma is made up of individual Cambridge International AS & A levels, which have widespread international standing as educational qualifications. The diploma demands knowledge from three different subject groups plus the core compulsory Global Perspectives and Research (GPR) component to provide a broad curriculum with a balance between mathematics/science, languages arts/humanities interdisciplinary subjects while maintaining flexibility by allowing students to choose their own level for each subject.

The key concepts for Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry are: 

• Atoms and forces - Matter is built from atoms interacting and bonding through electrostatic forces. The structure of matter affects its physical and chemical properties and influences how substances react chemically. 
• Experiments and evidence - Chemists use evidence gained from observations and experiments to build models and theories of the structure and reactivity of materials. Theories are tested by further experiments and an appreciation of accuracy and reliability is gained. 
• Patterns in chemical behavior and reactions - Patterns in chemical behavior can be identified and used to predict the properties of substances. By applying these patterns, useful new substances can be designed and synthetic routes created. 
• Chemical bonds - The understanding of how chemical bonds are made and broken by the movement of electrons allows us to predict patterns of reactivity. Appreciation of the strength of chemical bonds leads to the understanding of a material’s properties and its uses. 
• Energy changes - The energy changes that take place during chemical reactions can be used to predict the extent, feasibility, and rate of such reactions. An understanding is gained of why and how chemical reactions happen.

 

AS Level

AS Level subject content Candidates for Cambridge International AS Level Chemistry study the following topics: 

 

A-Level

A-Level subject content Candidates for Cambridge International A Level Chemistry study the AS topics  and  the following topics: 

 

IB Curriculum 

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is for students aged 16-19. It offers curricula on 6 areas of science from which students can select one. IB Chemistry requirements focus on the following topics:

Core Concepts

Additional Higher Level (AHL)

 

Does Florida Award High School Credit for Passing the AP Chemistry Exam?

The Florida Department of Education has set standards for awarding credit-by-exam equivalencies. According to these standards, students are entitled to the following AP chemistry credit awards by Florida State post-secondary education institutions:

AP Exam Score of 3 — CHM X020Ccore or CHM X020 /X020Lcore (min. 4 credits)  
AP Exam Score of 4 — CHM X045Ccore or CHM X045/X045Lcore or CHM X040/X045L (min. 4 credits) 
AP Exam Score of 5 — CHM X045C core or CHM  X045/X045L core and CHM X046 or X046/X046L (min. 8 credits) 

 

Does Florida Award AICE Chemistry Credit?

The Florida Department of Education has set standards for awarding credit-by-exam equivalencies. According to these standards, students are entitled to the following AICE Chemistry credit awards by Florida State post-secondary education institutions:
Chemistry (AS-Level) 

Passing Score of A, B, C, D, or E: 
Chemistry (AS-Level) — CHM X020Ccore or CHM X020/020Lcore or CHM X025C or CHM X025/025L (min. 4 credits)  
Chemistry (A-Level) — CHM X020Ccore or CHM X020/020Lcore or CHM X025C or CHM X025/025L and CHM X045Ccore or CHM X045/045Lcore (min 8 credits)

 

Does Florida Award IB Chemistry Credit?

In 2006, the Florida State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.024 and the Board of Governors established that the credit-granting recommendations below award equal course credit for diploma and non-diploma holders for passing exam scores. 

IB Score of 4  (Minimum 3 credits per exam) - CHM X020Ccore or CHM X020/X020Lcore 
IB Score of 5-7  (Minimum 6 credits per exam) - CHM X020Ccore or CHM X20/X020Lcore and CHM X045Ccore or CHM X045/045Lcore