Four DeKalb schools have achieved state recognition by the Illinois School Board of Education (ISBE).

Chesebro and Littlejohn Elementary Schools have been recognized as Spotlight Schools, Huntley Middle School was named an Academic Improvement School and Lincoln Elementary School was acknowledged as an Academic Excellence School.

This is the third consecutive year Chesebro Elementary School has received this award.

“We have a very special population because 50.7 percent of our students are Spanish-speaking, so our expectations for students are for them to achieve grades in reading and math and provide all resources that allow them to make progress in those areas,” said Sharon Giless, principal of Chesebro Elementary School. “When students do well in school, they typically do better in their adult lives.”

According to a press release, to be recognized as a Spotlight School, four criteria must be met. First, 50 percent of students must be classified as low-income, 60 percent of students must have exceeded or met standards in 2006, 50 percent of students must have met standards in 2004 and 2005 and the individual school must meet Adequate Yearly Progress required by No Child Left Behind.

Becky McCabe, assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, said the four DeKalb School District 428 schools recognized are schools that have performed at a certain level based on testing.

“These are schools who have made great academic improvements in the last few years and it feels great to be recognized by the state,” said McCabe.

McCabe said that what the schools have done and are still continuing to do to make improvements is taking information provided by test scores and using it to develop programs to improve student achievement.

To be named an Academic Improvement School, the school must have a 7.5 percent increase in state test scores in reading and math within the last two years or show a 15-point improvement within the last three years.

The Academic Excellence Award has been awarded to 129 Illinois schools. To qualify for this award, schools must maintain high performance levels on state testing for at least three consecutive years.

“I’m proud of the staff, children and families. It took all of them in a team effort to get recognition with such as high honor,” said Cristy Meyer, principal of Lincoln Elementary School. “Getting an award like this shows that our success reflects not only the success of our school but also the success of the district.”

Meyer said that Lincoln Elementary is starting a new program called the Power Literacy Hour, which will work diligently toward utilizing all staff resources to closely attend to individual skills students need.