Naper schools shine on yearly honor roll

Updated: March 2, 2013 7:43AM

Nearly two dozen local schools were put near the top of the class in the annual round of Academic Excellence Awards announced this week by the Illinois State Board of Education and Northern Illinois University.

The recognition, derived from the previous spring’s state standardized test scores, singled out 14 elementary schools in Indian Prairie District 204. Only the City of Chicago School District 299, where there are nearly 20 times as many campuses, logged more honorees on the list. Nine Naperville District 203 elementary schools also were distinguished.

Honorees are recognized when at least 90 percent of the students have met or exceeded standards on the math and reading portions of the tests for at least three years in a row. Winning schools also must have achieved Adequate Yearly Progress for at least two years under the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Of the 454 schools earning the statewide distinction this year, 270 are elementary schools. The winning schools included 212 where students showed increases in scores over last year. Another 159 elementary schools saw test scores dip, but still remain above the 90 percent mark.

“These honor roll schools once again show us that rigorous standards, great instruction and lots of hard work improve student performance,” Gery J. Chico, ISBE chairman, said in a news release. “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 and hope local community members will also celebrate their local schools’ success.”

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