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 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
1,610 Schools
# Students
7,840 Students
622,872 Students
# Teachers
457 Teachers
48,610 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
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
7%
31%
% Black
51%
21%
% White
26%
39%
% 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 Middle 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.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #6 - 76. - 7.
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: #6 - 76. - 7.
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: #88.
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%
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