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 criteria have remained constant, but the numbers of schools recognized has varied considerably.  Much speculation surrounds variations in test scores, a primary factor in the awards criteria, but definitive research is not yet available. Some trends are clear, and those are summarized here.

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 (97) are being recognized for the fourth or fifth consecutive year. Secondly, 77% 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. Good old-fashioned hard work by students, teachers, and parents in high-poverty schools helped them win this award.

Total Numbers

Total Number of Awards = 1281

Total Number of Schools = 1177

Total Number of Districts = 382

In 2007, a total of 3887 schools were tested by the Illinois State Board of Education.  The number of award winning schools represents 30% of all schools tested.

School Types

Charter Schools = 11

Geographic Distribution of 1177 Award-winning Schools

Percentage of Award-Winning Schools 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). Currently, the subjects are reading and mathematics.

All schools winning the Spotlight Schools and Academic Excellence Awards made AYP this year.  Although making AYP was not a criterion for the Academic Improvement Awards, 68% of those schools did make AYP.

Repeat Awards - Sustaining Exemplary Performance

A total of 15 schools are receiving a fifth Spotlight School award this year, having maintained high level performance since the award began in 2003.  40 other schools earned the distinction for a fourth time.

Sustaining 7.5% performance improvements year after year can be done!  In 2007, 29 schools won the Academic Improvement Award for a third time, and 223 schools won the award in both 2006 and 2007.

42 Academic Excellence schools sustained their long-term high achievement and won a fourth award in 2007.  46 schools are being recognized for the third time (2005–2007) and 29 for the second time (2006–2007).

Test Score Trends - Scores are Good and Getting Better

• 303 of 508 Spotlight Schools (60%) showed increases in test scores over last year.
• At all 607 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.
• 30 Academic Improvement Award schools raised scores by more than 30 percentage points over two years.  
• 71 Academic Excellence elementary schools showed increases in scores over last year, even though they started at a baseline above 90% of students meeting or exceeding standards.

 Double Awards - 103 Schools earned both Spotlight Schools and Academic Improvement Awards.

Again this year, one school won both the Spotlight Schools award and the Academic Excellence Award, Jones College Preparatory High School in Chicago.

103 schools won both the Spotlight Schools award and the Academic Improvement Award. 

 Top Ten Award-Winning Districts