One elementary school in Champaign and one in Urbana made adequate yearly progress, measured in 2011 test scores released Monday (Oct. 31).

But both districts say they're measuring students' progress in more ways than just the state's standardized tests.

"The way No Child Left Behind has been implemented means, at some point, every school will not make adequate yearly progress," said Don Owen, the Urbana school district's assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

In 2011, federal standards say that at least 85 percent of students had to meet or exceed certain standards.

That's up from the requirement that 77.5 percent of students had to meet or exceed federal standards in 2010. That number will increase to 92.5 percent in 2012 and 100 percent in 2014.

All students are included in the tests, even those with special needs, who have trouble with English or are economically disadvantaged.

Urbana's Yankee Ridge Elementary School made the mark in 2011, and Owen said he was glad to see overall, the district's scores didn't drop from last year, and the district has seen "good progress" in the last five years.

Plus, it's just one factor in measuring students' growth, he said.

"We don't define our schools by it," he said, referring to adequate yearly progress.

Those scores don't reflect individual students' progress and whether they're on track. That's measured through other tests and work in classrooms, he said.

And as Urbana middle and high schools continue through restructuring — which is required when schools don't make adequate progress a few years in a row — Owen said "amazing things" are happening.

For example, the high school is offering more dual credit and Advanced Placement classes, and its students' test scores in the latter are higher than the state average.

"We didn't want restructuring to be aimed at the ability to take a multiple choice test," Owen said. "We want students to be more prepared for college and careers."

He said some high school students who didn't meet No Child Left Behind standards were accepted to the University of Illinois.

"There's a disconnect between the state testing process and the skills and the skills and abilities (required) to be accepted into college," Owen said. "Our goal is to make sure the kids succeed in life."

In Champaign, Bottenfield Elementary made academic yearly progress.

But Barkstall Elementary in Champaign missed it by less than 3 percentage points in one subgroup — those who are considered economically disadvantaged — after having a long history of making adequate progress.

Four Champaign elementary schools made academic yearly progress in math, including Barkstall, South Side, Booker T. Washington and Westview.

"What we're seeing is some ups, some downs," district spokeswoman Lynn Peisker said. Those include gains at Stratton and Washington elementary schools, and at Franklin Middle School.

Much of the district remained flat, though, she said, and the district continues to monitor students beyond what test scores indicate.

"We know our top students are performing well, but it's important for every student to be able to achieve (the benchmarks set by the No Child Left Behind)," she said. "We must do better. We have confidence in our principals and teachers working hard every day toward that goal."

The district is keeping an eye on students' progress beyond No Child Left Behind by giving students other tests that measure growth throughout the school year and from year to year, said Judy Wiegand, Champaign's assistant superintendent for achievement and pupil services.

Both high schools are also in the middle of restructuring, which Wiegand said was going well.

Central is in its third year and Centennial is in its second, Wiegand said, and the schools have adapted new programs for teaching and curriculum.

Wiegand said it will take three to five years for the changes to "take hold."

"We're starting to see some trends upward," at Central in its third year, and the district expects the same from Centennial.

Peisker said the goal isn't just for students to do well during one week of testing during March.

"We want our children to do well every day," she said.