News
For Immediate Release
March 20, 2013
State Board recognizes Illinois Honor Roll schools in Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair counties
Annual list recognizes improving and high-performing schools across the state
BELLEVILLE — State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch and Illinois State Board of Education members recognized 17 schools from St. Clair, Monroe and Randolph counties today (Wednesday, March 20) for being named to the 2012 Illinois Honor Roll. The schools were honored during a school assembly at Westhaven Elementary School in Belleville.
“At a time when many districts are being asked to do more with less, these schools are rising to the occasion. The educators, parents and students should be especially proud of these accomplishments,” said Superintendent Koch. “I am honored to be here today at Westhaven Elementary to recognize these academic achievements.”
Westhaven Elementary School received its second consecutive Academic Excellence award this year. The school also was named a Spotlight School from 2003 to 2007.
The latest Illinois Honor Roll list includes 624 schools across the state. There are about 4,000 public schools in Illinois. The Honor Roll 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 by 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 improvement.
The schools recognized today in Belleville were:
| Distrct | School | Award |
| Belleville SD 118 | Westhaven Elementary School | Excellence |
| Cahokia CUSD 187 | Penniman Elementary School | Improvement |
| Columbia CUSD 4 | Columbia Middle School | Excellence |
| Parkview Elementary School | Excellence | |
| Coulterville USD 1 | Coulterville Junior High School | Spotlight |
| East St Louis SD 189 | Brown Elementary School | Spotlight/Excellence |
| Jackson Elementary School | Spotlight | |
| James Avant Elementary School | Improvement | |
| Grant CCSD 110 | Grant Middle School | Improvement |
| Lebanon CUSD 9 | Lebanon High School | Improvement |
| Mascoutah CUD 19 | Scott Elementary School | Excellence |
| Millstadt CCSD 160 | Millstadt Consolidated School | Excellence |
| Shiloh Village SD 85 | Shiloh Elementary School | Excellence |
| Sparta CUSD 140 | Sparta Primary Attendance Center | Improvement |
| Valmeyer CUSD 3 | Valmeyer Junior High School | Excellence |
| Wolf Branch SD 113 | Wolf Branch Elementary School | Excellence |
| Wolf Branch Middle School | Excellence |
The 2012 Honor Roll roster contains elementary, middle and high schools, including charter schools, and represents 293 public school districts statewide. Downstate schools represent 39 percent of the Honor Roll schools, suburban schools represent 49 percent and Chicago schools make up the final 12 percent this year. The schools earned a total of 640 awards in the three categories.
Northern Illinois University works with ISBE to establish criteria, identify winners of the awards and administer the Illinois Honor Roll. A complete listing of the 2012 Illinois Honor Roll Schools can be found online at http://www.ilhonorroll.niu.edu.
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