2007 Academic Improvement Award

The 2007 Academic Improvement Awards honor 607 schools for substantial gains in performance over the last several years. The award winners range across all levels, from schools where 32% of students are meeting the Illinois Learning Standards to schools where 100% 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 2003–2004 award winners, Mission Possible, for Illinois principals' stories on how they do it.

Total Number by Year

in 2007 = 607

in 2006 = 1031

in 2005 = 306

in 2004 = 150

In 2003 = 100

These awards celebrate substantial improvement at any level, so the rules do not require that Academic Improvement Award schools make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Actually, 68% of the Academic Improvement winners did make AYP in 2007.

School Types

Test Scores

Academic Improvement Awards acknowledge substantial progress at any level. Scores on state tests are distributed along a range from 32% meeting or exceeding standards to 100% passing the state tests.  The median score was 76% of students meeting or exceeding standards, which is above the state average.

State and Federal Status

The majority of the Academic Improvement Award schools made Adequate Yearly Progress this year. Only 195 of 607 schools (32%) failed to make AYP. 

• Academic Early Warning Status      31
• Academic Watch Status                 186
• Restructuring & Restructuring Implementation       141

• Between 0 and 100% of students in the 607 schools are eligible for free or
  reduced lunch.
• 369 schools enroll more than 50% low-income students.
• 154 schools enroll 25-50% low-income students.
• 84 schools enroll 0-25% low-income students.

Repeat Winners

Schools that continue to make substantial improvements in performance year after year deserve a special round of applause. This year 29 schools earned a third Academic Improvement Award, and 223 schools earned a second award.

Double Winners

103 Spotlight Schools also earned Academic Improvement Awards.

Districts with 4 or more Academic Improvement Award Schools