District 70 schools honored for academics

For the third consecutive year, Adler Park, Butterfield, Copeland Manor, Highland Middle and Rockland schools are being honored with the highest academic award given by the state for providing students with a high-quality education.

Each of the five schools in Libertyville Elementary District 70 received the highest award, an “Academic Excellence Award.” They were included with only 438 schools in the state to receive the award.

In order to qualify, those 438 schools showed they could sustain high student performance over at least three years. The award was given to schools where at least 90 percent of students met or exceeded state standards in 2009-2011.

“This is an impressive accomplishment for all five of our schools — and to achieve this three years in a row is truly exceptional,” Superintendent Guy Schumacher said. “This level of excellence continues to express a conscientious commitment to teaching and learning, as well as the genuine talents and strengths possessed in District 70. I could not be more proud of our students, staff and community as a whole.”

This is the sixth year Copeland Manor has been honored with the award. This is the fourth year the award has been given to Adler Park, Butterfield and Rockland schools. Highland Middle School also won the award for the fourth time, having been awarded the Academic Improvement Award in 2006 for showing substantial student performance gains over three years.

The schools were given the award by the Illinois State Board of Education and Northern Illinois University. This year, 703 schools made the Illinois Honor Roll for their continued academic progress.

Schools can receive three types of awards, including the one District 70 received, which is the highest, the Excellence Award. Schools also can receive the Academic Improvement Award and the Spotlight School award.