In December 2005, the Illinois State Board of Education established rules for the Illinois Honor Roll, formalizing an awards program that had been piloted in 2003 and 2004. The following data include only limited comparisons to previous years, since the 2005 results constitute a baseline for comparison in future years.

Overall, two important comparisons with previous years testify to the efforts of students, faculty, and parents in these school communities.   First, a remarkable number of schools (125) are being recognized for the second or third consecutive year.  Secondly, 89% of schools have continued to improve their test scores.  The progress of these “no excuses” schools exemplifies the possibilities for improvement in Illinois schools at every level.

Total Numbers

Total Number of Awards = 724

Total Number of Schools = 683

In 2005, a total of 3885 schools were tested by the Illinois State Board of Education.  The number of awards represents 18.6% of all schools tested.

School Types

School Types - Trends

Compared to previous years, the percentage of high school awards has declined.  Middle schools winning awards have increased seven-fold, and the number of elementary and K-8 award winners has more than doubled.

Charter Schools = 10

Schools with Restricted Enrollments

Only 12 of 683 schools on the Illinois Honor Roll restrict enrollments to gifted and talented students or those with high test scores.

Geographic Distribution of 683 Award-winning Schools (683 or 17.6% of 3885 Illinois schools tested in 2005)

Percentage of Award-Winning Schools - By Geographic Region

Total Number of Schools Tested - By Geographic Region

Test Scores and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

To determine eligibility for awards, the Illinois Honor roll uses composite scores of subjects that count for determining Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP); in 2005 the subjects were reading and mathematics.

All schools winning the Spotlight Schools and Academic Excellence Awards made AYP in 2005.  Although making AYP was not a criterion for the Academic Improvement Awards, 78% of the schools did make AYP.

Repeat Awards - Sustaining Exemplary Performance

64 Spotlight Schools (76% of 2004 winners) earned this distinction for a second time this year. A total of 21 schools are receiving a third Spotlight School award.

13 Academic Improvement Award schools won the award last year and 3 schools won it for a third time.

48 Academic Excellence schools also won this award last year. Of the 2004 winners, 76% sustained their long-term high achievement and won a second award.

Test Score Trends - Scores are Good and Getting Better

• 278 of 316 Spotlight Schools (88%) showed increases in test scores over 2004.
• At all 306 Academic Improvement Award schools, the number of students meeting or exceeding standards increased by at least 7.5% over one year or 15% over two years.
• More than 25 Academic Improvement Award schools raised scores by more than 30% over two years.  
• 58 Academic Excellence elementary schools showed increases in scores over 2003, even though they started at a baseline above 90% of students meeting or exceeding standards.

 Double Awards - 40 Schools earned both Spotlight Schools and Academic Improvement Awards

Two schools won both the Spotlight Schools award and the Academic Excellence Award.  They are Jones College Preparatory High School in Chicago and Lincoln Elementary School in Anna.

38 schools won both the Spotlight Schools award and the Academic Improvement Award.  They are listed on the Academic Improvement Awards home page.

Cities with Multiple Schools on the Honor Roll

127 Schools on the Honor Roll Chicago (127/571) 14 Schools on the Honor Roll Peoria (14/32) 10 Schools on the Honor Roll Cicero  (10/17) Joliet (10/18) 8 Schools on the Honor Roll Rockford (8/47) 7 Schools on the Honor Roll Decatur (7/21) 6 Schools on the Honor Roll East St. Louis (6/22) Galesburg (6/10) Winnetka (6 - multiple districts) 5 Schools on the Honor Roll Naperville (5 - multiple districts) Springfield (5/31) Waukegan (5/21) Aurora East (5/16) Barrington (5/11) Belleville (5/11) Berwyn (5 - multiple districts) Cahokia (5/8) Centralia (5/6) Danville (5/11) Elgin (5/52) Freeport  (5/9) Zion (5/6)

4 Schools on the Honor Roll Alton (4/11) Bloomington (4/8) Blue Island (4/6) Collinsville (4/12) Deerfield (4/6) Kewaunee (4/6) Lincoln (4/6) Lincolnshire (4 - multiple districts) Monmouth (4/5) Northbrook (4 - (multiple districts) Palatine (4/19) Pekin (4/10) 3 Schools on the Honor Roll Aurora West Caseyville Champaign Clarendon Hills Des Plaines Granite City Harvey Highland Park Hinsdale Jacksonville Kankakee Lake Forest Marion Moline Mt. Prospect Quincy Rock Island South Beloit Streator Summit Urbana Western Springs Wheaton Wilmette

 Districts with 4 or More Honor Roll Schools Located in Several Cities

Districts with Highest Percentages of Schools on the Illinois Honor Roll