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 school year, there are 16 public schools serving 7,840 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 27%), and reading proficiency score of 7% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 74% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Illinois public school average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
16 Schools
4,394 Schools
# Students
7,840 Students
1,842,872 Students
# Teachers
457 Teachers
137,935 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.
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
0.69
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
7%
29%
% Black
51%
16%
% White
26%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
15%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,934 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,455. The school district revenue/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $20,719 is less than the state median of $21,692. The school district spending/student has grown by 41% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$133 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$162 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,934
$22,455
Spending / Student
$20,719
$21,692
Best Decatur SD 61 School District Public Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Decatur Pub. Schs. Alt. Education
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1 N Educational Park Dr, Jared
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3361
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3361
Gr: K-12
Rank: #22.
Macarthur High School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1499 W Grand Ave
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3152
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3152
Gr: 9-12 | 1,059 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #33.
Johns Hill Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 10%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1025 E Johns Ave
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3350
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3350
Gr: K-8 | 627 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #44.
Eisenhower High School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1200 S 16th St
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3100
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3100
Gr: 9-12 | 909 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #55.
Montessori Academy For Peace
(Math: 6% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4735 E Cantrell St
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3390
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3390
Gr: PK-8 | 586 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #66.
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 | 327 students Student-teacher ratio: 30:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Michael E Baum Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
801 S Lake Ridge Ave
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3521
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3521
Gr: K-6 | 313 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
South Shores Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2500 S Franklin Street Rd
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3321
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3321
Gr: K-6 | 335 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #99.
Parsons Elementary School
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 8%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3591 N Macarthur Rd
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3330
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3330
Gr: K-6 | 505 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1010.
Muffley Elementary School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
88 S Country Club Rd
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3341
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3341
Gr: K-6 | 386 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #1111.
Dennis Lab School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 4%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
300 Meadow Terrace Pl, Dennis
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3511
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3511
Gr: K-8 | 579 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
American Dreamer Stem Academy
(Math: 2% | Reading: 3%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2115 S Taylor Rd
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3380
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3380
Gr: K-8 | 423 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Stephen Decatur Middle School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 3%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1 Educational Park
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3251
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3251
Gr: 7-8 | 413 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Franklin Grove Elementary School
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 2%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2440 N Summit Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3561
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3561
Gr: K-6 | 461 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Hope Academy
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 2%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
955 N Illinois St
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3280
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3280
Gr: K-8 | 501 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: n/an/a
2912 N University Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3301
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3301
Gr: PK | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Decatur SD 61 School District?
Decatur SD 61 School District manages 16 public schools serving 7,840 students.
What is the rank of Decatur SD 61 School District?
Decatur SD 61 School District is ranked #857 out of 861 school districts in Illinois (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 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, 26% of students are White, 15% of students are Two or more races, 7% 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 17:1, 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 $20,719 is less than the state median of $21,692. The school district spending/student has grown by 41% over four school years.
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