Students’ scores ‘off the charts’ on science tests
By James Quatromoni Hull High Athletic Director & Community Outreach Coordinator
“Next to excellence, comes the appreciation of it.” – William Makepeace Thackeray
The College Board, sponsor of the Advanced Placement program, describes the goal of Environmental Science as “providing students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.”
Hull High School students from teacher John Donohue’s AP Environmental Science class have certainly embraced this challenge.
These students are tested through MCAS and the College Board’s AP program. The scores are in. Simply put, the results are off the charts.
Within the AP testing, every student scored a four or a five on a five-point scale test. “Two years ago, we had a wide range of scores,” said Hull High Director of Guidance Bet Regan. “To have all fours and fives – it is unbelievable, it just does not happen.”
In the MCAS, Mr. Donohue’s students were 100 percent proficient, all scoring within the advanced or proficient range. This is in comparison to the state average of 57 percent proficient.
“The tremendous performance of Mr. Donohue’s students is a good indicator that the adjustments made to the program of study, responsive system scheduling, and increased academic expectations have paid huge dividends,” said Hull High Principal Jonathan Ford. “Mr. Donohue is one of the best examples of the high quality of teachers that we have working in the Hull Public Schools.”
“Mr. Donohue teaches a project-based science,” added science department lead teacher Sheila Blair. “The students exerience science and must take ownership for their learning. He develops that quality and motivates his classes.”
Donohue travels to Nebraska during the summer to grade AP tests for the College Board. He is among a select group of teachers given this responsibility. “As a national grader of AP tests, he has a solid understanding of what it takes to succeed in the test,” said Regan. “I am convinced that it makes a considerable difference in how prepared our students are.”
Of Donohue’s 12-hour days spent grading tests over the summer, Ford said, “Taking the initiative to be involved in the testing program demonstrates a personal commitment to excellence.”
Just as important as the high scores is the potential financial impact of achieving a four or a five in the AP test, as Regan said all schools give college credit for scores of fours and fives.
In today’s economic world, that dollar savings can be significant. In combination with Hull High School’s course offerings through Quincy College, students are well prepared – and save thousands of dollars in future educational expense.
“Mr. Donohue has a gift for motivating his students to embrace the coursework,” said Blair. “And the students have certainly risen to the occasion.”
Those students include Brianna Duhaime, James King, James Llewellyn, Meagan Maynard, Siobhan McDonagh, Patrick O’Loughlin, Michael Petrocelli, Alison Schnipper, John Shea, Melissa Striglio, Lauren Tierney, and Colleen Troy
The words of some of Mr. Donohue’s students go along way in painting the picture of the positive learning atmosphere within the walls of Hull High School.
“Mr. Donohue is a hands-on teacher that knows his stuff through and through,” said senior Alex Feo, a student in Donohue’s Quincy College Biology Class. “He has all the required skills to motivate kids to learn.”
“AP Environmental Science was a unique class in the sense that we got so much work done, but still really had a good time,” said Duhaime, a senior. “I really looked forward to the class.”
“Mr. Donohue covers the material in a very ordered way – so that you never feel overwhelmed,” explained senior Patrick O’Loughlin. “Yet when you look back, you’ve covered and enormous amount of material.”
“The results of Mr. Donohue’s students best exemplify the level of academic achievement attainable by the students of Hull when provided the opportunity to take truly challenging courses presented by top-notch professionals,” said Ford.
“I am very pleased to congratulate Mr. Donohue and his students on their hard work and many successes,” said Hull Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Tyrell.
And with that, excellence has been appreciated.
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