Chippewa Middle

Town: Des Plaines

Number of subgroups for which it's held accountable: Seven

Success story: The school posted solid scores across the board and made the grade for the second time in a row this year -- enough to pull itself off the state's list of schools that need improvement. That success comes despite higher standards statewide and the fact that the school now includes more subgroups than before.

How it got there: Chippewa expanded its after-school and Saturday tutoring program, inviting struggling students in for sessions. About 80 percent of invited kids took part.

What it plans for next year: The school will continue its tutoring options and expand the programming again.

Quote: "We focus on the kids and don't look at the color of his or her skin. We focus on the kids who don't meet the standards. It boils down to this: We want all of our kids to learn and be successful." -- Eric S. Bailey, principal