Science Department Leads the Way!

CHICAGO - Feb. 13, 2015 - PRLog -- "EPIC helps you increase your knowledge and skills, but most importantly, it helped me with my confidence."

Alondra, an EPIC senior, reflects on her impressive growth last year. She is one of the many 12th graders whose gains were more than double the national average growth between the Freshman EXPLORE and the Junior ACT science exams.

Alondra and her peers, EPIC Academy's Class of 2015, ranked 27th of all non-selective high schools in Chicago in terms of growth on the science exam from the EXPLORE to ACT according to the Illinois Network of Charter Schools' data website.

What caused such significant growth? Environmental Science teacher Paul Reeping points to the data-driven instructional techniques that our science teachers have pioneered at EPIC over the last four years. "Data helps our students identify their strengths and weaknesses and shows me what I need to do to help."

Chemistry teacher Sean Smith elaborates: "Data allows teachers to communicate with certainty what students should be able to do the following year. This allows us to start each year with rigorous expectations."

Esteban, another EPIC 12th grader who grew seven points from EXPLORE to ACT, explained the benefit:

"Mr. Reeping and Mr. Smith helped us understand why we were getting types of questions wrong. They checked in on everyone and made sure we understood the skills before we moved on."

The success of our science department in using data to drive instruction and investing students in this process has led the way for other departments. With this hard work, we expect to see great growth across other subject areas this year!