Schools in Burnham, Bloom Township, Calumet City, Dolton, Glenwood, Lansing and South Holland are among those across Illinois achieving Honor Roll status.

The Illinois State Board of Education and Northern Illinois University announced Thursday that 1,177 schools statewide have been named to the 2007 Illinois Honor Roll and applauded them for their continued academic progress.

The latest Honor Roll includes 97 schools that are recognized for the fourth or fifth consecutive year. A number of districts, including Dolton Elementary District 148 and South Holland Elementary District 150, have multiple schools on the honors list.

"I congratulate and applaud the efforts of those principals, teachers, parents and community members who made it possible for these schools to rise to the level of excellence required to make the Illinois Honor Roll," State Superintendent Christopher A. Koch said in a statement. "It is also noteworthy to see that many schools continue to maintain this achievement year after year."

The 2007 Honor Roll roster includes elementary, middle, and high schools and represents 382 school districts statewide. The honors are divided into three recognition categories: Spotlight Schools, Academic Excellence, and Academic Improvement.

"I'm always thrilled when we get recognition for the good things we do," said Dolton Elementary District 148 Superintendent Ruby Roberson. "What we want to ensure is for our quality instruction to be the norm, rather than the exception."

Some south suburban schools, like Heritage Middle School and Memorial Junior High School, both in Lansing, Sandridge Elementary School in unincorporated Bloom Township, McKinley Junior High School in South Holland and Dirksen Middle School in Calumet City, are winning an Academic Improvement Award for a second consecutive year.

"It proves to me our staff, our kids and our families are continuing to work hard together to help maximize students' potential to become successful human beings and to develop into lifelong learners," said Sunnybrook Elementary District 171 Superintendent Joseph Majchrowicz. "That's our mission. That's what we come here every day for."

Lansing Elementary District 158 Superintendent Veronda Cottle, likewise, said she is proud of the efforts of the entire staff and learning community "for providing new and creative ways to strengthen our curriculum and allow our students to achieve in this manner.'

Sandridge Elementary School is celebrating the distinction of being both a 2007 Spotlight School and Academic Improvement Award winner.

"The school community can be very proud of these two achievements and certainly we are striving to continue to improve our school," Sandridge District 172 Superintendent John Sawyer III said. "The recognition is well earned by our students and our staff and both are to be commended."

At Burnham Elementary School, Principal Wendy Whited said she is "ecstatic" the school is back on the Honor Roll again and credits the "very hard work of our teachers and our students."

Burnham School is a 2007 Spotlight School and a 2006 Academic Improvement Award recipient.