2010 Academic Excellence Awards
Academic Excellence Awards recognize 459 schools that have sustained very high academic performance over at least three years. The number of schools receiving the award has continued to rise each year since 2004. Some of these schools receive national recognitions, placing them among the nation's most outstanding.
In elementary and middle schools, at least 90% of students met or exceeded state standards in both reading and mathematics for at least 3 consecutive years. In high schools, at least 80% of students met or exceeded standards on the Prairie State Achievement Exam in 2008-2010. All Academic Excellence schools achieved Adequate Yearly Progress for the past two years.
As AYP standards rose in recent years, the number of high schools receiving this award declined. At a number of high schools that received Excellence Awards in prior years, 80% or more of all students continue to meet or exceed standards on the Prairie State, but these school failed to achieve AYP due to rising standards for subgroups.
Schools that receive Academic Excellence Awards tend to remain on the Honor Roll year after year, and many of them raise their level of performance. Achieving and maintaining excellence is not easy in any school. The critical strategies for success cited in Billman, Mission Possible also operate in the schools winning the Excellence Award.
FACTS ABOUT 2010 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Total Number by Year
School Types
Academic Excellence High Schools
Number indicates consecutive annual awards.
| Deerfield High School, Deerfield (7) | Northside College Prep, Chicago (7) |
| Jones College Prep, Chicago (6) | Payton College Prep, Chicago (6) |
| Young Magnet, Chicago (6) | Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale (1) |
Test Scores - Moving More Students into the Exceeds Range
- 212 elementary schools showed increases in scores over last year even though they started at a baseline above 90% of students meeting or exceeding standards.
- 159 elementary schools showed decreases in test scores, but stayed above the 90% mark.
Low-Income Enrollment ("Low-income" is designated by eligibility for free or reduced lunch.)
- The 20 Academic Excellence schools in Chicago enroll 6.8 to 60% low-income students.
- Of the 459 Academic Excellence schools, 299 (65%) enroll fewer than 15% low-income students.
Geographic Distribution of 459 Academic Excellence Awards
School Size
- Hinsdale Central High School in DuPage County is the largest Academic Excellence school with 2755 students. The six high schools enroll from 827 to 2755 students.
- Elementary enrollments range from 31 in Nelson Elementary School in Lee County to 988 students in Oak Grove Elementary, libertyville.
- 196 of the 363 (54%) elementary schools enroll 400 or more students.
Repeat Winners
43 Schools |
7th time (2003–2010) |
40 Schools |
6th time (2004–2010) |
21 Schools |
5th time (2005–2010) |
38 Schools |
4th time (2006–2010) |
159 Schools |
3rd time (2007–2010) |
74 Schools |
2nd time (2008–2010) |
90 Schools |
First time (2010) |
Double Winners
- 5 Schools earned both Spotlight Schools and Academic Excellence Awards.
- Jones College Preparatory High School, Chicago
- Vanderpoel Elementary Magnet School, Chicago
- Tilden Attendance Center, Tilden
- Willow Elementary School, Pekin
- Armstrong-Ellis Elementary School, Armstrong
Districts with 4 or More Excellence Awards in 2010
