27 Feb 2026
Across Indiana and Arkansas, the Cambridge Pathway is expanding to help schools connect learning directly to college and career success.
At the district level, Rogers Public Schools has become the first district in Arkansas to offer students a Cambridge education that spans from primary to high school. The first Cambridge-approved schools in the state are Janie Darr Elementary School, Birch Kirksey Middle School and Rogers High School, providing a connected learning experience, starting at age 5 and culminating in the Cambridge AICE Diploma.
By aligning learning from the Cambridge Pathway across the three schools, the district aims to support students in building strong academic foundations over time, as well as global citizenship, and college and career readiness.
In an interview with KNWA and FOX24 News, Lisa Williams, Principal, Rogers High School said: “I think the great thing about Cambridge is that it’s not just supporting students for their future in college or education, it also supports their learning and critical thinking skills – the skills you need whether you’re in an education environment or going straight into the workforce.”
The move supports Arkansas’ ACCESS Act, introduced last year, which calls for expanded, accelerated learning opportunities and greater post-secondary access to education (after high school at age 18) for economically disadvantaged and/or first-generation college students. The Cambridge AICE Diploma is recognised within this framework, widening access to Cambridge programmes. Public schools in the U.S. are tax-payer funded and do not charge students fees for enrolment.
“This pathway reflects our commitment to offering high-quality options that support student access at every stage of learning,” said Dr Jeff Perry, Superintendent of Rogers School District. “We are proud to lead the state in expanding opportunities for students and families, and we look forward to the impact this will have across our district.”
Indiana awards first Cambridge maths and science grants
At the state level, Indiana is scaling similar efforts to strengthen students’ workforce and post-secondary readiness through targeted investment.
Six schools have been chosen to receive the first Cambridge International Math and Science grants, a new initiative being piloted to support schools in implementing Cambridge courses with an emphasis on mathematics, science and quantitative reasoning.
The Indiana Department of Education will allocate up to $500,000 next year to support the participating schools, while also providing $2,495 for each student who completes the Cambridge AICE Diploma. Students earning the diploma will qualify for the Honors Enrollment Plus Seal, which guarantees automatic admission to Indiana’s public colleges universities including Ivy Tech, Indiana University, Purdue University and Ball State University.
“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.”
In addition, Indiana will cover the cost of up to three annual Cambridge exams per student, and ensures public colleges award credit for passing Cambridge International AS & A Levels, providing financial support for students.
“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. “This pilot gives schools a structured, assessment-based pathway that emphasizes depth in math and science while keeping students on track for post-secondary and career success with opportunities to earn college credit and durable, lifelong skills.”
The six schools receiving the grants are Al Haqq Foundation Academy (Charter); East Chicago Central 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); and Whiteland High School (Clark-Pleasant Community Schools). More schools are expected to be approved for future funding rounds.
Fifteen US states or public higher education systems now include Cambridge International AS & A Levels in their credit-by-exam policies, recognising students’ prior learning and offering them an affordable pathway to college and career success.