North High student earns AICE Top in Country award
A North Fort Myers High School student has earned a 2022 Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education Top in Country award on his geography assessment.
“I am very excited. It was very much a surprise to me. I was not expecting it,” North Fort Myers High sophomore Landon McCarthy, 16, a Cape Coral resident, said.
Estero High School senior Jack Calder received the Top in Country Award for the AICE Psychology Assessment.
“It is a great pleasure to honor students and teachers at the School District of Lee County for their exceptional work in Cambridge courses and examinations” Mark Cavone, Cambridge International Regional Director, North America, said in a prepared statement. “These results are a testament to the impressive talent of students and teachers in Lee County and it is a delight to celebrate their success.”
These students earned the highest standard mark in the nation in an individual subject. Students, who are in the Cambridge program, take AICE classes to help them prepare for exams to earn college credit, as well as the potential Cambridge diploma. The diploma is given to students who have passed a Global Perspective and Research exam and seven Cambridge exams in three different subject areas
McCarthy said although the test was not too difficult, he had some insecurities of how well he would do on the test. But, the study group he formed with his friends and watching videos his geography teacher provided him helped him answer the wide range of questions from his human geography and physical geography classes.
He said his first semester focused on human geography, while the second semester focused on physical geography.
“I really enjoy the human geography aspect of it. Physical geography focuses on topography and landscapes and human geography is how countries are set up politically,” he said.
As a sophomore, he is involved in the theater program where he does the technical aspect, such as line design and microphones, assistant stage managing and being a part of the run crew.
“I work at a theater outside of school and do lighting design there,” McCarthy said.
The sophomore also paints with some of his artworks hanging at the theater in Cape Coral and is a member of a few clubs.
Right now, he hopes to study forensic pathology after high school.
“I am extremely proud. This was some accomplishment. It was unbelievable,” Lori McCarthy said of her son’s hard work. “He took the test as a freshman. To do as well as he did is unheard of.”
She explained that being smart comes natural for her son.
“It is nice when you put effort into something and it pays off. It’s not all the time academically you get that kind of pat on the back. I am super, super happy for him,” Lori said.
As a parent, she said she could not be happier with a high school, than with North Fort Myers High School. She said it is an amazing school, fabulous staff with a great deal of support that always goes back to the kids.
“I praise North Fort Myers High School. My kids have always been extremely good in school, hard working and dedicated. It’s nice to have that combination of academics and the arts. At North you are able to really put yourself out there,” she said. “North Fort Myers promotes such a good climate.”
She recommends the AICE program, as she really likes the skill of writing that is required with the program.
“It taps into another part of academics because it is out of England,” she said.
The district is also celebrating 184 students who received Cambridge Scholar Awards for their exceptional performance on the June 2022 exam series.
In order to receive the Cambridge Scholar Awards with Distinction, a student must receive at least three A grades or higher on the assessments. For those who receive Cambridge Scholar Awards with Merit, the student must receive at least three B grades. The Cambridge Scholar Awards is given to students who receive at least three C grades.
Estero High School
• 5 Cambridge Scholar Awards with Distinction
• 20 Cambridge Scholar Awards with Merit
• 40 Cambridge Scholar Awards
Gateway High School
• 2 Cambridge Scholar Awards with Merit
• 5 Cambridge Scholar Awards
Island Coast High School
• 1 Cambridge Scholar Award
Lehigh Senior High School
• 1 Cambridge Scholar Award with Distinction
• 11 Cambridge Scholar Awards with Merit
• 25 Cambridge Scholar Awards
North Fort Myers High School
• 1 Cambridge Scholar Award with Distinction
• 18 Cambridge Scholar Awards with Merit
• 51 Cambridge Scholar Awards
South Fort Myers High School
• 4 Cambridge Scholar Awards
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com