August 29, 2008 Email: schoolsearchadv@aol.com
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Phone: 816-529-3027 		   SchoolSearchä      

Press Release

 Announcing the 13th annual Illinois School District Year 2008 SchoolSearchä Bright Starä Award Recipients

School Districts that Shine in Spite of Low Funding

The award is based on districts with highest student performance at lowest cost.

        SchoolSearchä honors eighty-two (82) Illinois School Districts (out of a total of 871 districts) with the Bright Starä Award of Excellence. The award criteria are based on districts whose students’ academic performance ranks in the upper one-third of Illinois school districts, but whose expenditure per pupil ranks in the lower one-fourth of Illinois school districts based on the following criteria (Information Source: 2007 IL Report Card Data -- most recent information available at award time):

 Elementary Criteria:
  1. The Average Percentage of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th Grade ISAT (Illinois Standards Achievement Test) meets or exceeds percentages of reading & math. The criterion for this factor is at or above 85.88%. The Illinois State District range for this overall average ISAT percentage is 41.11 (lowest) -- 98.31 (highest) out of a possible range of 0-100. The Illinois State average for this percentage is 78.57.
  2. The Average Operating Expenditure Per Pupil. The criterion for this factor is at or below $7,236. The Illinois State range for operating expenditure per pupil is $5,144 (lowest) - $22,050 (highest) & the Illinois State average operating expenditure per pupil is $9,488.
Secondary Criteria:
  1. The ACT Composite Score of All Students Tested. The criterion for this factor is at or above 20.6. The Illinois State District range for the ACT is 13.3 (lowest) -- 27.1 (highest) out of a possible range of 1-36. The Illinois State average ACT score is 20.3 & the U.S. average ACT score is 21.2.
  2. The Average Operating Expenditure Per Pupil. The criterion for this factor is at or below $7,361. The Illinois State range for operating expenditure per pupil is $5,144 (lowest) - $22,050 (highest) & the Illinois State average operating expenditure per pupil is $9,488.

Low cost is a high price to pay - (SchoolSearchÔ does not promote low funding for schools).

These school districts may have many common struggles that may not be resolved unless they have additional funding. Major areas of concern cited by Bright Starä recipients are lack of funding for technology, overcrowded conditions, large class sizes & buildings in need of repair. Superintendents express gratitude for the support they receive from parents, teachers, school board & community. SchoolSearchÔ believes Bright Starä recipients should be acknowledged and considered for additional funding. It is likely that these districts would make efficient use of additional funds based on past performance. Imagine the positive possibilities!

SchoolSearch™ is an educational research & consulting firm that
publishes rankings of school systems.
SchoolSearchÔ provides comparative school district information for corporations, homebuilders,
school districts, libraries, real estate professionals & relocating families -- since 1991.
For Immediate Release

CLICK HERE to View & Print the Award List.

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