Decatur SD 61 School District

101 W Cerro Gordo St
Decatur, IL 62523-1001
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
1/
10
Bottom 50%

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 2026-27 school year, there are 8 public middle schools serving 3,456 students in Decatur SD 61 School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Illinois.
Public Middle Schools in Decatur SD 61 School District have an average math proficiency score of 4% (versus the Illinois public middle school average of 24%), and reading proficiency score of 6% (versus the 29% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 76% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Illinois public middle school average of 61% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
16 Schools
1,606 Schools
# Students
7,840 Students
622,256 Students
# Teachers
457 Teachers
48,565 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Decatur SD 61 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 861 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.
This School District
State Average (IL)
#852 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

4%
27%

Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

6%
30%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

21%
50%
72%
87.6%
(2022-23)
55.1%
29.7%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.65
0.71

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
5%

Showing 2010–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
7%
31%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 26-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
51%
21%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% White
26%
39%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
15%
4%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $19,186 in this school district is less than the state median of $25,132. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,433 is less than the state median of $24,168. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (IL)
Total Revenue
$150 MM
$46,284 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$145 MM
$44,509 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$19,186
$25,132

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$18,433
$24,168

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Decatur SD 61 School District Public Middle Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Decatur Pub. Schs. Alt. Education
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1 N Educational Park Dr, Jared
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3361
Gr: K-12
Rank: #22.
Johns Hill Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 10%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1025 E Johns Ave
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3350
Gr: K-8 | 627 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #33.
Montessori Academy For Peace
(Math: 6% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4735 E Cantrell St
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3390
Gr: PK-8 | 586 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #44.
Robertson Charter School
Charter School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2240 E Geddes Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 428-7072
Gr: PK-8 | 327 students Student-teacher ratio: 30:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #55.
Dennis Lab School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 4%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
300 Meadow Terrace Pl, Dennis
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3511
Gr: K-8 | 579 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
American Dreamer Stem Academy
(Math: 2% | Reading: 3%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2115 S Taylor Rd
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3380
Gr: K-8 | 423 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Stephen Decatur Middle School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 3%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1 Educational Park
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3251
Gr: 7-8 | 413 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #88.
Hope Academy
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 2%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
955 N Illinois St
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3280
Gr: K-8 | 501 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 80%

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 16 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 7,840 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 74%
  • : 72% (Btm 50% in IL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 4% (Btm 50%)
  • : 6% (Btm 50%)
  • : 21% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

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