Course Descriptions: Honors Seminar AIM begins the year by introducing students to the Python programming language through the context of modeling real-world scenarios using differential equations, statistical methods, and linear algebra. Models from biology, epidemiology, physics, and history provide students with a diverse interdisciplinary lens, highlighting the ubiquity and significance of computational modeling.

The second semester of AIM introduces students to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence. Students learn and employ a diverse array of programming techniques to solve canonical machine learning problems through regression and classification. To accomplish this task, students develop competence with TensorFlow, an industry standard platform for machine learning.

Sample projects include handwriting recognition, generative text using Shakespeare’s works as a text source, and predicting who would survive the Titanic given only the information on the ship’s passenger manifest.

Image caption, right: An example of generative text after Alex Missen, class of 2020, trained the neural network on Shakespeare. 

Companion AI Course: This course introduces the subject of AI by studying real-world applications past, present, and future. It also addresses the fundamental social and technical issues raised by the existence and pursuit of AI by humanity. The course will treat the subject from a variety of standpoints and methods, including historical survey, discussion of ethical implications both historical and hypothetical, and technical projects including some rudimentary programming and projects involving hands-on activities.

In 2014 Oxbridge launched its aviation program, which uses a Redbird MCX Flight Simulator. Through this program, elective courses, and extracurricular clubs, our students have an unprecedented opportunity to explore the aviation and aeronautics industries. 

Students use the full-motion Redbird MCX Flight Simulator under the guidance of a simulator instructor who is also a certified flight instructor. Access to the simulator allows students the opportunity to accumulate hours towards their pilot's license. With a nationwide decline in pilots, this program gives students the foundation in aviation they need to assess the industry as a career path, build their resumes, gain training hours, and improve confidence.

We are one of the few high schools in the country chosen to implement the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) curriculum that enhances our course study. The aviation curriculum combines math, science, geography, government, and economics coursework; industry expert lecturers; and field trips. Currently, AOPA has released its 9th, 10th, and 11th grade courses, which has been implemented at Oxbridge.

Co-founded by Oxbridge Academy and Cambridge University, the Cambridge Scholars Program allows students to dive deep into a subject taught by Cambridge faculty. Launched in 2014, this interdisciplinary program is a life-changing experience. The focus of study changes yearly but is always on the intersection of British literature and history.  

This is one of the premier programs at Oxbridge, completely unique in its structure, and providing our students with an extraordinary experience at one of the greatest and oldest universities in the world. John Klemme, English Teacher and Former Oxbridge Academic Dean & Head of School

Academic Focus: At Oxbridge, an Honors Seminar course on British Literature provides preparation; at Cambridge, students attend 18-22 lectures, all given by Cambridge faculty. In 2019 the focus was “Britain: First World War to 1939,” and lectures included “Treaty of Versailles” and “War Poets.” To graduate from the program, students submit a 2,500-word essay on one of the texts they’ve studied. The essay is scored by Cambridge faculty using the Cambridge grading criteria e. Students then defend their thinking in a 30-minute session with the professor. The remaining days are spent exploring venues and museums that coincide with the recent lectures. 

Who: Each year, juniors who demonstrate academic excellence and exceptional work ethic are selected through a competitive process. Students spend the semester at home preparing for the trip by reading and researching that year’s topic. During spring break the students travel to Cambridge where they participate in lectures and discussions, visit landmarks, write a college-level paper, and defend their essays before Cambridge professors.

Read blog posts from past Cambridge Scholars.

Perhaps one of the biggest initiatives differentiating Oxbridge is the focus and opportunity to explore individual research. In classrooms throughout our campus, students are diving into various topics of interest in science, humanities, mathematics and English. Under the guidance of their teacher, students are tasked with complete responsibility for the project from beginning to end. Students must call and schedule appointments with outside experts; they collect, tally, and interpret their data; and they develop their conclusions.

Oxbridge students have the opportunity to conduct research projects in collaboration with prestigious organizations, such as Scripps Florida, Max Planck, Ecology Project International, and Florida Oceanographic Society. Oxbridge students attend collegiate research conferences to present their research, and some have had their research published in scientific journals. These students point to their research work as a skill they will carry with them through college and into their professional careers.