Eagle Pointe and Walker’s Grove elementary schools received a 2012 Academic Excellence Award from the Illinois State Board of Education among 624 schools statewide named to the Illinois Honor Roll.

The honor, given this year to 454 schools statewide, recognizes schools that have sustained very high academic performance over at least three years. The Illinois Honor Roll program recognizes schools for continued academic progress.

To earn the Academic Excellence Award, as least 90 percent of elementary and middle school students must have met or exceeded state reading and math standards for at least three consecutive years. 

In 2012:

• 92 percent of Eagle Pointe students met state reading and math standards, up from 91.1 percent last year and 91.4 percent in 2010
• 91 percent of Walker’s Grove students met state reading and math standards, down slightly from 92 percent last year and 91.3 percent in 2010 

“We are very proud of the students, staff and families at both of these schools,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Harper. 

“Their success is just another example of the academic excellence found in all of our schools, and shows how hard our staff continues to work to improve teaching, learning, support and achievement for all of our students,” Harper said.

Seven years ago, District 202 engaged in a plan to create a school system in which every student can achieve his or her maximum potential. Numerous steps have been taken, including:

• developing and implementing a coordinated and articulated PreK-12 curriculum in all content areas, to eliminate curriculum “gaps” both between levels, and among schools at each level;
• developing and implementing a data-driven School Improvement Plan to meet state and federal learning requirements;
• increasing the rigor of the curriculum at all levels;
• increasing students’ access to a more challenging curriculum;

developing and implementing a systematic series of academic and behavioral; interventions to help at-risk learners at each grade level.

This year, 624 schools were named to the Illinois Honor Roll, earning 640 awards.  The 2012 honor roll includes 50 schools that are being recognized for the ninth or tenth consecutive year.

“These Honor Roll schools continue to prove that hard work and reform efforts impact student performance,” wrote State Board of Education Chairman Gery J. Chico.

“Behind each school’s success is an untold story of extraordinary passion and dedication on behalf of administrators, teachers, parents and students. We commend each school for its commitment to improvement and excellence,” he said.

The Interactive Illinois Report Card (IIRC) at NIU worked with the ISBE to establish criteria, identify winners of the awards, and administer the Illinois Honor Roll, which is divided into three categories – Spotlight Schools; Academic Excellence and Academic Improvement. Each award has unique criteria that best reflect the diverse circumstances of Illinois schools.

• Spotlight Schools – Recognizes 105 high-poverty, high-performing schools that are beating the odds to overcoming the achievement gap.
• Academic Excellence Awards – 454 schools have sustained high performance over at least three years.
• Academic Improvement Awards – 81 schools are showing substantial gains over three years.

The 2012 honor roll roster includes elementary, middle and high schools, and represents 293 school districts statewide. Suburban schools represent 49 percent of the Honor Roll schools, downstate schools account for another 39 percent and Chicago schools make up the final 12 percent this year.