Iuka Grade School Receives Awards in ISBE Honor RollIuka Grade School is a double winner in this year's State Board of Education Illinois Honor Roll. The school was named because of its achievement with a high number of low income students as well as for Academic Improvement for improved test scores. Superintendent John Consolino credits a program that tracks the reading and math progress of individual students and giving them extra attention in weak areas.
"We do what we call a power hour during the day when all the students for the elementary and a different time of day for the junior high. We're breaking the kids up into the smallest groups as we can and as many people in the building as we have scheduled during that time and focusing on what those kids need in those specific small groups. It's an endless cycle of what the kids need and changing what they get during that power hour time depending on what the assessment shows they need", said Consolino.
The Iuka Grade School District saw its standardized test scores rise from 84.5 to 92 percent. The Johnsonville School District in northwest Wayne County also received a double honor of being a Spotlight School and winning the Academic Excellence Award.
Six Clinton County Schools also received the Academic Excellence Award, led by Bartelso Grade with 99 percent of its students making adequate yearly progress. Others on the list include Albers Grade (97% AYP), St. Rose Grade (95%), Aviston Grade (94%), Damiansville Grade (91%) and Wesclin Junior High (90%). New Hope Elementary in Fairfield (95%) also made the list.
Eight other schools in the area were named Spotlight Schools due to exceptional performance with a high percentage of low income students. They are Ashley Grade (85% AYP), Floyd Henson Junior High in Flora (58.1%), Grand Prairie Grade (84%), Irvington Grade (83%), Jordan Grade in the Centralia City Grade School District (74.9%), McKendree Elementary in Flora (93%), Schiller Elementary in Centralia (85%), and Xenia Grade (93%).
Four area districts received Academic Achievement Awards for large improvement in test scores. They are Patoka High School, Clay City High School, Mt. Vernon Primary Center and McClellon Grade in rural Mt. Vernon.
State School Superintendent Christopher Koch praised the schools for making major academic strides. Northern Illinois University helps the board establish criteria and identify award winners. Among various categories, the Illinois Honor Roll recognizes schools that overcome unique challenges to close achievement gaps.
The complete list of Honor Roll schools is available at www.ilhonorroll.niu.edu.
See other LocalNews news:Another Late Winter Storm Crosses Area Dumping Heavy Snow
Spin Out On North Broadway in Salem Results in Head On Crash
Two Hurt in Route 37 Crash South of Salem
Centralia Man Complains of Minor Injuries In Crash South of Sandoval
Police Beat for Saturday, February 28th, 2015