Congratulations to the 2003 Spotlight Schools!

Fact Sheet
Graiff Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Berrian Elementary School

Fact Sheet
Berrian Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Blackhawk Elementary School

Fact Sheet
Blackhawk Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Carruthers Elementary School

Fact Sheet
Carruthers Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Davie Elementary School

Fact Sheet
Davie Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
Dewey Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
Earl Hanson Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
East Richland Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card
PowerPoint Presentation
Photos

Franklin Elementary School

Fact Sheet
Franklin Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
Gordon School Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
Hardin County Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Harding Primary School

Fact Sheet
Harding Primary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Jones College Preparatory

Fact Sheet
Jones College Preparatory Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
Leland Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
Maple Grove Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
Michael E. Baum Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card
PowerPoint Presentation

Fact Sheet
Montessori Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
Petty Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card
PowerPoint Presentation

Fact Sheet
Sainte Marie Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card
PowerPoint Presentation

Fact Sheet
Vergennes Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
Washington Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
Westhaven Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card

Fact Sheet
Willow Hill Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card
PowerPoint Presentation

Fact Sheet
Ziebell Elementary Web Site
Commentary
Interactive Illinois Report Card 

Commonalities of Spotlight Schools

• Exemplary principals who are leaders of learning, who are resourceful, who craft a culture of high expectations, and who model leadership daily 
• A hard working, devoted staff that has the highest expectations, demands excellence, and REALLY believes each student can succeed
• Early literacy programs that focus on prevention and early intervention
• Policies, programs, and services to include parents in the school and to educate parents in both parenting and in academic skills
• Access to good nutrition and health care for all students
• School-wide professional development on a single topic related to school improvement planning
• Sharing of local and state assessment data and systematic use of that data to improve teaching and learning
• Frequent celebrations and ceremonies
• Strong connection to early childhood programs
• Access to books in the classroom and formal recognition of reading progress
• Ready access to a host of after school, before school and Saturday programs
• Summer school for most students
• Technology used to enhance learning and for analyzing and charting data
• School improvement plans focused on a small number of improvement initiatives that are embraced, supported, and sustained by the entire school community.

Quoted from Glenn McGee, "Closing Illinois' Achievement Gap: Lessons from the Golden Spike Schools"

About the Spotlight Schools

The Illinois Spotlight Schools awards grew out of research on high poverty, high performing schools funded by the Illinois State Board of Education and conducted at Northern Illinois University (NIU). One of the recommendations of that study was to establish a recognition program for these extraordinary schools. The Illinois school accountability system, which is aligned with “No Child Left Behind,” requires rewards for high achieving schools as well as sanctions for schools that are not doing well. When NIU proposed development of an awards program for high poverty, high performing schools, ISBE agreed. Using criteria developed jointly, ISBE identified 26 Spotlight Schools, the first annual winners, in mid-October, 2003.

The Spotlight Schools are receiving recognition from a variety of quarters. ISBE is honoring the schools at ceremonies around the state in October and November 2003. The Illinois Business Roundtable is awarding a check for $300 to each school. The Illinois Principals Association will help to develop a support and professional development network for the Spotlight Schools principals. Recognizing that we need to know more about what makes these schools successful, NIU and other research universities have identified topics for scholarly studies.

Data about each of the Spotlight Schools is on this page, but more important, you will find commentary from the principals and teachers about how these schools succeed so remarkably. More information is available if you click on the school web page links.