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Local schools recognized by state


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By Catherine Leyden, cleyden@mysuburbanlife.com
Riverside Suburban Life

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Nearly 40 schools throughout the western suburbs have been recognized by the state as high performers.

On an annual basis the Illinois State Board of Education hands out three different awards to public schools based on performance and socioeconomic circumstances surrounding the school and its students.

The three categories include Spotlight Schools, Academic Improvement Awards and Academic Excellence Awards, all of which are symbols that measure a school’s performance.

Andrea Preston, spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education, said several factors are calculated in order to determine which school is deserving of the honors.

“It’s based off of report card data and reading and math scores,” Preston said.

In order to be named a Spotlight School 60 percent of the students enrolled must pass reading and math tests given by the state. Also, half of the student enrollment must come from low income families.

Schools that achieve the Academic Improvement Award show enhanced performance in obtaining state standards in reading and math.

The Academic Excellence Award is given to schools where 90 percent or more of the students perform above state standards.

Robinson Elementary School in Lyons was named a Spotlight School for the first time and its principal Al Molina said it was the result of a group effort.

“I am very proud of the tremendous effort from our teachers, support staff and parents,” Molina said. “It’s because of their tremendous effort that we can help our students to be supported.”

Preston said the Spotlight Schools and the Academic Improvement Awards were first handed out in 2003. The Academic Excellence Award was created the following year.

Preston said the three different honors are important because they allow schools to tangibly see the student’s academic gains.

“It’s great to see that the schools are honored,” Preston said. “It’s a mark of achievement and the schools are proud and the community, students and parents can celebrate.”

Want to know more?

For more information or to search Illinois public schools, visit www.isbe.net and click on the Illinois Honor Roll link.

The following schools are recognized as being on the Illinois State Board of Education’s honor roll in suburban central Cook County.

Berkeley schools:
MacArthur Middle School, Improvement Award

La Grange schools:
Cossitt Avenue School, Academic Excellence Award
Highlands Middle School, Academic Excellence Award
Ogden Avenue School, Academic Excellence Award
Pleasantdale Elementary School, Academic Excellence Award
Spring Avenue Elementary School, Academic Excellence Award
William F. Gurrie Middle School, Academic Improvement Award

Lyons schools:
Costello School, Spotlight School
George Washington Middle School, Academic Improvement Award
Robinson School, Spotlight School

Riverside schools:
Blythe Park School, Academic Excellence Award
Central School, Academic Excellence Award

Western Springs schools:
Forest Hills Elementary School, Academic Excellence Award
John Laidlaw Elementary School, Academic Excellence Award
McClure Junior High School, Academic Excellence Award

The following schools are recognized as being on the Illinois State Board of Education’s honor roll in suburban eastern Cook County.

Berwyn schools:
Emerson Elementary School, Spotlight School
Heritage Middle School, Spotlight School
Hiawatha Elementary School, Academic Improvement Award and Spotlight School
Irving Elementary School, Spotlight School
Jefferson Elementary School, Spotlight School
Karel Havlicek Elementary School, Spotlight School
Komensky Elementary School, Academic Improvement Award and Spotlight School
Lincoln Middle School, Academic Improvement Award
Pershing Elementary School, Spotlight School
Piper School, Spotlight School
Prairie Oak School, Spotlight School

Cicero schools:
Abe Lincoln Elementary School, Spotlight School
Columbus East Elementary School, Spotlight School
Columbus West Elementary School, Academic Improvement Award
McKinley Elementary School, Spotlight School
Sherlock Elementary School, Spotlight School
T. Roosevelt Elementary School, Academic Improvement Award
Unity Jr. High School East Campus, Academic Improvement Award
Warren Park School, Spotlight School
Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, Spotlight School

Stickney schools:
Edison School, Spotlight School

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