Geneva High atop local lists for science, reading
When it comes to the 2014 scores on state-mandated school report cards, Geneva High School was first in four of five categories among seven high schools in the Tri-Cities area.
According to data released today by the Illinois State Board of Education, Geneva again had the highest percentages of students in the area meeting or exceeding state standards for 11th-graders in reading and science. It also had the top composite ACT score, and the highest percentage of meets-or-exceeds on the Prairie State Achievement Examination.
Geneva's science result put it at No. 6 among high schools in the Daily Herald coverage area in Kane, DuPage, Lake, McHenry and northwest Cook counties. In reading, it was No. 7, and on the overall PSAE charts, No. 9.
"There is no 30-second sound bite" to explain Geneva's success in science, said science department Chairman Kevin Gannon. "It is a very long, convoluted process that starts in kindergarten," where students begin working on reading, writing and mathematics skills. You need to be able to read materials, perform calculations and write reports to do science well, he said.
Gannon also said that the humanity teachers bring in to the classroom will become more important as the science curriculum becomes more cookie-cutter, tailored to the demands of Common Core-based tests. Personalizing science to make it relatable to teens is key to holding their interest, he said.
On a lesson Wednesday about the transformation of glucose into energy bodies can use, and how oxygen is involved because it attracts electrons, students laughed when he told them he had become excited about the concept the night before while out running.
"The reason you've been sucking in your whole life is you need a place to put electrons," he said. After class, he said he knew the point would resonate with that Advanced Placement Biology class, because there were four cross-country runners and a competitive swimmer in the seats.
ACT scores
Batavia, Geneva and West Aurora had slight drops in their ACT scores. Kaneland can crow, however, as it had the highest gain, of 5.2 percent, going from 21.1 to 22.2. Scores at St. Charles East and St. Charles North also increased.
Geneva's was 24.2. West Aurora was the lowest, at 19.2.