2011 Academic Excellence Awards
Academic Excellence Awards recognize 438 schools that have sustained very high academic performance over at least three years. Some of these schools receive national recognitions, placing them among the nation's most outstanding.
In elementary and middle schools, at least 90% of the students met or exceeded state standards in both reading and mathematics for at least 3 consecutive years. In high schools, at least 85% of the students met or exceeded standards on the Prairie State Achievement Exam in 2009-2011. All Academic Excellence schools achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) 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, 85% 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 2011 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Total Number by Year
School Types
Academic Excellence High Schools
Number indicates total times the award was received.
| Northside College Prep, Chicago (8) | Jones College Prep, Chicago (7) |
| Payton College Prep, Chicago (7) | Young Magnet, Chicago (7) |
| Lane Technical High School, Chicago (2) | |
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 24 Academic Excellence schools in Chicago enroll 9% to 65% low-income students.
- Of the 438 Academic Excellence schools, 265 (61%) enroll fewer than 15% low-income students.
Geographic Distribution of 438 Academic Excellence Awards
School Size
- Lane Technical High School in Chicago is the largest Academic Excellence school with 4161 students. The five high schools enroll from 844 to 4161 students.
- Elementary enrollments range from 52 in Cherry Grad School in Bureau County to 962 students in Oak Grove Elementary, Libertyville.
- 198 of the 438 (45%) 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
- 10 Schools earned both Spotlight Schools and Academic Excellence Awards.
- Arcadia Elementary, Olympia Fields
- Brown Elementary, East Saint Louis
- Irvington Elementary, Irvington
- Jones College Preparatory High School, Chicago
- Lane Technical High School, Chicago
- Norwood Primary, Peoria
- Tefft Middle, Streamwood
- Vanderpoel Elementary Magnet, Chicago
- William F. Murphy Elementary, Woodridge
- Willow Elementary, Pekin
Districts with 4 or More Excellence Awards in 2011
