You appear to be confusing evolution with abiogenesis. Then why can't evolution be put in it's place, a hypothesis or theory. Perhaps the highschool books should spend more time explaining the meaning of scientific theory and hypothesis which would simplify their shy attitude towards evolution both as fact and as theory. While studying Chemistry at Louisiana State University I ran into the same situations.
Evolution is both a fact and a theory.
The observations indicate that evolution happened, the theory tries to explain how. Chemistry might have a place in abiogenesis but other sciences tend to be more appropiate for evolution.