Top Rankings
Decatur SD 61 School District 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 school year, there are 17 public schools serving 7,827 students in Decatur SD 61 School District. This district's average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Illinois.
Public Schools in Decatur SD 61 School District have an average math proficiency score of 4% (versus the Illinois public school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 7% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Illinois public school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
17 Schools
4,399 Schools
# Students
7,827 Students
1,881,776 Students
# Teachers
424 Teachers
136,664 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Decatur SD 61 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 844 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-2021 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 70% has decreased from 72% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#850 out of 852 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)3%
28%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
6%
30%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
50%
Graduation Rate
70%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.65
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
6%
28%
% Black
51%
16%
% White
28%
45%
% 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 SD 61 School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Garfield Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
300 Meadow Terrace Pl, Dianne
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3361
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3361
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Rank: #22.
Macarthur High School
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
300 E Eldorado St
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3152
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3152
Grades: 9-12
| 1,042 students
Rank: #33.
Johns Hill Magnet School
Magnet School
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3350
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3350
Grades: K-8
| 623 students
Rank: #44.
Eisenhower High School
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1200 S 16th St
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3100
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3100
Grades: 9-12
| 936 students
Rank: #55.
Montessori Academy For Peace
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3390
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3390
Grades: PK-8
| 639 students
Rank: #66.
Parsons Elementary School
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3330
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3330
Grades: K-6
| 488 students
Rank: #77.
Robertson Charter School
Charter School
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2240 E Geddes Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 428-7072
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 428-7072
Grades: PK-8
| 332 students
Rank: #88.
Muffley Elementary School
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
88 S Country Club Rd
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3341
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3341
Grades: K-6
| 401 students
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Michael E Baum Elementary School
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
801 S Lake Ridge Ave
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3521
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3521
Grades: K-6
| 311 students
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
South Shores Elementary School
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3321
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3321
Grades: K-6
| 338 students
Rank: #1111.
Franklin Grove Elementary School
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3561
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3561
Grades: K-6
| 474 students
Rank: #1212.
Dennis Lab School
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
300 E Eldorado St
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3511
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3511
Grades: K-8
| 539 students
Rank: #1313.
American Dreamer Stem Academy
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2115 S Taylor Rd
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3380
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3380
Grades: K-8
| 364 students
Rank: #1414.
Stephen Decatur Middle School
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1 Educational Park
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3251
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3251
Grades: 7-8
| 467 students
Rank: #1515.
Hope Academy
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
955 N Illinois St
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3280
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3280
Grades: K-8
| 498 students
Rank: n/an/a
300 E Eldorado St
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3301
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3301
Grades: PK
| 375 students
Rank: n/an/a
620 E Garfield Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3310
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3310
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Decatur SD 61 School District?
Decatur SD 61 School District manages 17 public schools serving 7,827 students.
What is the rank of Decatur SD 61 School District?
Decatur SD 61 School District is ranked #842 out of 844 school districts in Illinois (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2020-2021 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Illinois school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Decatur SD 61 School District?
51% of Decatur SD 61 School District students are Black, 28% of students are White, 14% of students are Two or more races, 6% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Decatur SD 61 School District?
Decatur SD 61 School District has a student/teacher ratio of 19:1, which is higher than the Illinois state average of 14:1.
What is Decatur SD 61 School District's spending/student ratio?
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.
Recent Articles
Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
The issue of school choice and a voucher system is currently being revisited in Houston and across the state of Texas, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
What if NFL players came to your school? With the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, nutrition and exercise are promoted during the school day. NFL players participate in the program by coming to schools and talking to students about fitness. Learn more about the program and some of the schools that are implementing it.
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
Students all over the nation go hungry every day not because their schools don’t offer lunch, but because they refuse them to children with outstanding debts. Read on to learn about the horror that is lunch shaming and what can be done about it.
