Mt. Carmel Middle School Principal Rick Johnston was notified Wednesday that MCMS has received an Academic Improvement Award from the Illinois State Board of Education.

To earn the award, a school must have made significant academic improvement by showing an improvement of at least 15 points in state test scores in both reading and mathematics between 2005 and 2007 AND showed upward trend in state test results.

There are over 3900 schools in the state of Illinois and 683 reached this achievement, this seventeen out of every 100 schools. There were only 9 high schools and 207 middle schools that were given this award in the entire state. There were only 222 downstate schools that reached this level in testing scores.

Mt. Carmel Middle School students and staff members should be extremely proud and commended on this accomplishment. The school mission statement on its Web site states "MCMS: We are on a mission everyday."

Principal Rick Johnston said, "Our staff and students' commitment to working hard every day shows in what we do. I am very proud of our efforts and look forward to the next round of tests in early March."

Information regarding this prestigious award can be accessed off the school's Web site at www.mcmsaces.net.