2005 Academic Improvement Award

The 2005 Academic Improvement Awards honor 306 schools for substantial gains in performance over the last several years. The award winners range across all levels, from schools where 40% of students are meeting the Illinois Learning Standards to schools where 90% of students are meeting standards.

Located throughout the state, the award winners represent every type of school - large and small; elementary, middle, and high schools; both regular and charter schools; all funding levels; urban, suburban, and rural; low-performing and high-performing. They demonstrate that exemplary progress is possible at every level and can be sustained.

See NIU's study of 2003-4 award winners, Mission Possible, for Illinois principals' stories on how they do it.

Total Number by Year

in 2005 = 306

in 2004 = 150

In 2003 = 100

This is a baseline year for the Illinois Honor Roll, since ISBE established new rules for the awards in December 2005.   For the first time, the rules do not require that Academic Improvement Award schools make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).  Although the rules continue to require AYP for the Spotlight Schools and Academic Excellence Awards, the Academic Achievement Awards celebrate substantial improvement at any level.  Actually, 78% of the 2005 Academic Achievement winners did make AYP.

School Types

Test Scores

Academic Improvement Awards acknowledge substantial progress at any level. Scores on state tests are distributed along a range from 16% meeting or exceeding standards to 100% passing the state tests.  The median score was 70% of students meeting or exceeding standards, which is above the state average.

State and Federal Status

The vast majority of the Academic Improvement Award schools made Adequate Yearly Progress in 2005.  Only 67 of 306 schools (22%) failed to make AYP.  A total of 112 schools were “in status,” meaning that they faced state and federal sanctions for past performance.  All of these schools are making significant improvement.

• Academic Early Warning Status      44
• Academic Watch Status                     68

Low-income Enrollment of Academic Achievement Award Schools

• Between 0 and 97% of students in the 306 schools are eligible for free or reduced lunch.
• 173 schools enroll more than 50% low-income students.
• 78 schools enroll 25-50% low-income students.
• 55 schools enroll 0-25% low-income students.

Geographic Distribution of 306 Academic Improvement Awards

Repeat Winners

Schools that continue to make substantial improvements in performance year after year deserve a special round of applause. In 2005, 3 schools earned a third Academic Improvement Award, and 10 others earned a second award.

Academic Improvement Awards in 2003, 2004, and 2005

Academic Improvement Awards in 2004 and 2005

Double Winners -
38 Spotlight Schools Also Earned Academic Improvement Awards

Cities and Districts with 3 or more Academic Improvement Award Schools