Success story: John Muir Literacy Academy

Town: Hoffman Estates

Success story: After meeting federal No Child Left Behind bench marks two years in a row, John Muir was removed from Academic Early Warning status.

How it improved: Developing a reading intervention system, increasing parental involvement, and implementing programs that extend the school day, including the "Breakfast with Books" program and "Falcon's Nest Homework Club."

What it plans for next year: A focus on overall instruction. This November, teachers will be working with trainers to learn how to better differentiate instruction for various levels of students in one classroom. The school is also developing common tests for various grades.

"A lot of it, what we've been doing is really been focusing on the whole school. Not a particular subgroup, but having high expectations from all of our kids."

- Principal Brad Carter