Florida biology students finish off the course with a statewide End of Course (EOC) exam to measure their skills and knowledge gained during the year. This year, the biology department as a whole performed well on the EOC.

“We had the highest scores in Palm Beach County again. Our [average] school score was only one point away from a level 5,” biology teacher Lois Wise said. Level 5 is the highest level students can score.

Ms. Wise and biology teacher Elyce Hill worked diligently after school and during lunch throughout the school year to tutor students for the exam.

“We feel tutoring is a great way for students to have extra time with a teacher to help them truly understand the content,” Ms. Wise said.

The students felt that being able to understand the content was key to excelling on the exam and gaining high scores.

“I wasn’t taught for the test, and instead of memorizing everything to get an A, I actually learned science this year,” visual sophomore Devon Davis said. “I learned more in biology this year than I have learned in science in the previous four years.”