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Saint Charles East High School 1020 Dunham Road St. Charles, IL 60174 Look Inside!
Start: August 26, 1998 Kindergarten...

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Senior Features Page 12

Seniors Away!
See where they are going pgs. 8 -9
Illustration by Tom Hinds & Sheren Bamberger

05.20.2011 x Volume 91 x Issue 6

Testing Troubles

End: May 29, 2011 Graduation!

AP Exam Scheduling causes problems for students and sta

Photo Illustrations by Tom Hinds & Sheren Bamberger

Look Inside! Senior Page 12 Features

Nick Prose/Ellie Sterner/Taylor Griggs News Editors Proudly hanging in the main entrance of East High School is a banner declaring East as one of Americas Best High Schools of 2010. The study, conducted by Newsweek Magazine, totaled the number of graduating Seniors and the number of students enrolled in AP classes. St. Charles East scored a ratio of above 1.000, earning it the title of One of Americas Best High Schools. This is due to the increase of students enrolled in AP classes. Assistant Principal Shawn Harms said there has been a signicant increase in the number of students taking AP classes over the past few years. The number of D303 students enrolled in AP classes from 2007 to 2009 increased from 1,382 students to 1,652 students. In addition, the increase in AP students has resulted in higher scores. It is even more impressive that our policy of open enrollment has actually increased our scores recently (going up from 66 percent to 71 percent passing,) because they usually drop with more students, said Harms. However, the downside to this increased enrollment is simply nding enough room to give the exams. All AP

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students are required to take the exam on a particular date set by National Standards. With more students enrolled in AP classes, the issue of nding a suitable testing site is becoming more and more dicult. Guidance Counselor Sheila Vining, who has helped coordinate the AP test since the late nineties, used four main locations this year, including the o campus site of the Kane County Fairgrounds that required bus transportation. It was dicult coordinating the large number of students, but Student Activities and Dr. Abraham went above and beyond to help, said Vining. Unfortunately, some students this year were not satised with the testing locations. AP US History Students, stationed in the sports complex, felt particularly distracted. There were loud geese on the sports complex roof and regular car horns coming from the Range, said junior Meghan Niski. The loud noises would come and go, and one time I literally couldnt focus for two minutes straight it got so loud. The noises were not the only thing distracting students during the annual AP test. Oblivious PE students also walked into the complex during the test. It was weird, said junior Alex Liss. The doors were unlocked, but

they had no idea there was a big test going on. This has not been the only year students have complained. Last year, AP European History students criticized their testing location at Charlestowne Mall. According to junior Erin Abate, It seemed like there was a crowd of little children screaming, and running around. There was also the annoying sound of the carousel. It was a huge distraction. In response to the complaints, Harms said, We wanted to nd a less distracting site, so we changed it for this year. Some wonder if we should encourage only the top students to take AP courses. After all, with fewer students enrolled, it would be easier to schedule testing locations. However, this would lower Easts Newsweek ranking because there would be fewer students participating. Giving advice to students considering AP courses, guidance counselor Lisa Cole said, My philosophy of academic advising encourages balance. I believe that it is important for students to challenge themselves academically, but I caution students about becoming too overloaded. It is important to be realistic.

Juniors experience parking issues

Ellie Sterner News Editor
Bridget Mitchell slammed on her brakes as she nearly collided with the range gates. On May 9, Mitchell, a junior, thought she would nally be able to park in the range. But when she got to the entrance, it was closed. I didnt know where to go, and I was worried I was going to be late, so I parked somewhere in the senior lot, said Mitchell. According to Dean Shawn Burke, The Drivers Ed sta sets the date, and may have needed an extra day. The parking dilemma on the ninth raised many questions for East students. I dont understand why we cant just park every day? Sometimes it gets confusing trying to gure out which days are odd and even, especially by the end of the month when the dates change, said Mitchell. Although it may seem that there are enough parking spots in the Range for all juniors, There are only 189 spaces in the lot, and 200 Odd/Even permits given out, said Burke. Its pretty expensive [$100] even though we only get to park certain times of the year and every other day, said Mitchell. But the Deans cannot control this. The District Oce and Board of Education set the prices for all fees. Nevertheless, there are exceptions. Some juniors are eligible to park in the senior lot. Unfortunately, these coveted spots are only available for students in certain academic programs. If incoming Seniors scores are high

enough, they can get a free ever yday pass (wa iving the $200 fee.) Un fort u n at e ly for sophomores, District policy, sophomores are not allowed to park on campus, said Burke.

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