2006 Academic Excellence Award

Many of this nation's most honored schools are in Illinois. Awards and lists of outstanding schools generated by national magazines, government agencies, realtors, and research studies always include first-rate institutions in our state.  The Academic Excellence Awards recognize 129 schools that have sustained very high performance levels.

In these elementary schools, at least 90% of students met or exceeded state standards in 2004-2006. At the high school level, at least 80% of students passed the Prairie State Achievement Exam in 2004-2006. All Academic Excellence schools achieved Adequate Yearly Progress for the last two years.

Achieving and maintaining excellence is not easy in any school. The critical strategies for success cited by the 2003-4 award-winning Illinois principals in NIU's Mission Possible also operate in the schools winning the Excellence Award. Students, teachers, school leaders, parents, and community members all contribute to sustaining high-level academic performance.

Total Number in 2006 = 129
Total Number in 2005 = 101
Total Number in 2004 = 63

School Types

Test Scores - Moving More Students into the Exceeds Range

• 71 elementary schools showed increases in scores over 2005, even though they started at a baseline above 90% of students meeting or exceeding standards.
• 36 elementary schools showed decreases in test scores, but stayed above the 90% mark.
• Naperville Central High School's performance rose by 5.2 points

Low-income Enrollment

• 12 schools in Chicago enroll 5.6 to 55.6% low- income students.
• 108 of the 129 Academic Excellence schools enroll fewer than 15% low-income students.

Geographic Distribution of 129 Academic Excellence Awards

School Size

• Adlai Stevenson High School is the largest with 4510 students; all four suburban high schools enroll more than 1700.
• Elementary enrollments range from 100 in Belle Rive to 868 students at Fry Elementary in Naperville.
• 48% of the elementary schools enroll more than 400 students.

Districts with 4 or More Academic Excellence Awards

Repeat Winners

• 50 Schools - Second time (2005 and 2006) 39%
• 44 Schools - Third time (2004, 2005 and 2006) 34%