Top Rankings
Decatur School District 61 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Illinois for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 4 public preschools serving 1,346 students in Decatur School District 61. This district's average pre testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Illinois.
Public Preschools in Decatur School District 61 have an average math proficiency score of 6% (versus the Illinois public pre school average of 23%), and reading proficiency score of 11% (versus the 25% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 71% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Illinois public preschool average of 58% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
17 Schools
1,387 Schools
# Students
7,827 Students
512,005 Students
# Teachers
424 Teachers
38,167 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Decatur School District 61, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 864 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 72% has decreased from 74% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#852 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
4%
27%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
6%
30%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
50%
Graduation Rate
72%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.65
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
6%
32%
% Black
51%
18%
% White
28%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
14%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,962 in this school district is less than the state median of $21,990. The school district revenue/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $20,754 is less than the state median of $21,244. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$133 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$162 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,962
$21,990
Spending / Student
$20,754
$21,244
Best Decatur School District 61 Public Preschools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Montessori Academy For Peace
(Math: 6% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3390
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3390
Gr: PK-8 | 639 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #22.
Robertson Charter School
Charter School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2240 E Geddes Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 428-7072
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 428-7072
Gr: PK-8 | 332 students Student-teacher ratio: 55:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: n/an/a
300 E Eldorado St
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3301
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3301
Gr: PK | 375 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
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