The Illinois Honor Roll acknowledges nearly 300 schools where academic achievement is strong and/or improving significantly.

The Illinois Honor Roll schools have met the following criteria:

Spotlight Schools Awards to 85 Schools

• At least 50% low-income in 2002, 2003, and 2004;
• At least 50% of students met or exceeded standards in 2002;
• At least 60% of students met or exceeded standards in 2003 and 2004;
• Made Adequate Yearly Progress in 2003 and 2004, as required by No Child Left Behind
• At least 40% meeting and exceeding standards in both reading and mathematics
• 95% participation rate in state assessments for all students and each subgroup
• Attendance rate of at least 88% for elementary and middle schools and 65% for high schools

Academic Improvement Awards to 150 Schools

• Make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in 2003 and 2004,
• At least 40% meeting and exceeding standards on state tests
• 95% participation rate in state assessments for all students and each subgroup
• Attendance rate of at least 88% for elementary and middle schools and 65% for high schools AND

• Show an upward trend in state test results AND
• Make significant academic improvement by either -
• Showing at least 7.5 point improvement in state test scores between 2002 and 2003,
  OR Showing at least 15 point improvement in state test scores between 2002 and 2004 OR
• Earning removal in 2004 from the Academic Warning List or School Improvement Status.

Academic Excellence Awards

• Make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in 2003 and 2004,
• At least 40% meeting and exceeding standards on state assessments
• 95% participation rate in state assessments for all students and each subgroup
• Attendance rate of at least 88% for elementary and middle schools and 65% for high schools AND
• PK-8 Schools - 90% of students met or exceeded state standards for at least 3 consecutive years;
• High Schools - 80% of students met or exceeded state standards for at least 3 consecutive years; the percentage criterion will increase by one percent annually until it reaches 90% in 2014.

The Illinois State Board of Education sponsors the Illinois Honor Roll in partnership with Northern Illinois University. The Honor Roll is one of NIU's "P-20" initiatives, designed to improve coordination and quality of education across the continuum from pre-school through graduate school.

To learn more about each of the awards and the schools that earned them, click on the schoolhouse icons on the left.