York Suburban High School, as declared by Newsweek Magazine, is ranked number 67 in the nation’s top high schools. Due to the banner across the library windows, most people in York know this.
Many, however, don’t know that York Suburban rounds up high test scores across the board, including AP exam scores. The students who took the exams need to be recognized along with Keystone test takers.
Leslie Gentzyel, biology teacher and science department leader, said she is proud of the biology Keystone scores. From 2012 to 2013, scores jumped eleven percent, meaning eleven percent more students scored at least a proficient, even if it was their second or third try.
Gentzyel said increasing these scores “is going to be tough to do,” but with an increase of biology teachers, a curriculum worth commending, and Study Island, teachers hope the scores will improve.
Science teachers plan to continue the optional five day, after-school session officially dubbed “Bio-Boot Camp” in May. “That is they key thing to our success, is that intense review right before the test, and the kids take it seriously” said Gentzyel.
These sessions are a hit with students. Gentzyel reports an attendance of anywhere from 90 to 138 students daily and an estimated total of 500 students over the course of those five days.
The AP exams, taken in May, are tests taken to gain college credit and also strengthen York Suburban test takers. They are measured on a one to five scale, five being the highest score. Most colleges accept a three as passing the course.
On York Suburban’s biology and chemistry exams from last school year, there was a total of 9 fives, 10 fours, and 3 threes.
The exams are not mandatory, but “our kids take it and do well which shows that AP standard is there in our classrooms and shows you that the curriculum and teaching of that curriculum is very strong,” said Gentzyel.
Banner in front of the library windows. Photo by: Kait Kleynen