Academic Improvement Award

The 2006 Academic Improvement Awards honor 1031 schools for substantial gains in performance over the last several years. The award winners range across all levels, from schools where 31% of students are meeting the Illinois Learning Standards to schools where 98% 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 2006 = 1031

in 2005 = 306

ISBE established new rules for the awards in December 2005.  The rules do not require that Academic Improvement Award schools make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) because these awards celebrate substantial improvement at any level. Actually, 78% of the Academic Improvement winners did make AYP in 2006.

School Types

Test Scores

Academic Improvement Awards acknowledge substantial progress at any level. Scores on state tests are distributed along a range from 31% meeting or exceeding standards to 98% passing the state tests.  The median score was 77% 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 2006. Only 222 of 1031 schools (22%) failed to make AYP. 

• Academic Early Warning Status      125
• Academic Watch Status                     240
• Restructuring & Restructuring Implementation       139

Low-income Enrollment of Academic Achievement Award Schools

• Between 0 and 100% of students in the 1031 schools are eligible for free or
  reduced lunch.
• 515 schools enroll more than 50% low-income students.
• 270 schools enroll 25-50% low-income students.
• 246 schools enroll 0-25% low-income students.

Geographic Distribution of 1031 Academic Improvement Awards

Repeat Winners

Schools that continue to make substantial improvements in performance year after year deserve a special round of applause. In 2006, 3 schools earned a third Academic Improvement Award, and 142 schools earned a second award.

Academic Improvement Awards in 2004, 2005, and 2006

Double Winners -
145 Spotlight Schools Also Earned Academic Improvement Awards

Districts with 4 or more Academic Improvement Award Schools