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 27%), 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 55% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
17 Schools
4,398 Schools
# Students
7,827 Students
1,845,459 Students
# Teachers
424 Teachers
136,655 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 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
0.69
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
6%
28%
% Black
51%
17%
% 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 $22,423. 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 $21,662. 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
$22,423
Spending / Student
$20,754
$21,662
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
(Math: 5% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
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
(Math: 8% | Reading: 10%)
Rank:
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
(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
Grades: 9-12
| 936 students
Rank: #55.
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
Grades: PK-8
| 639 students
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
Grades: PK-8
| 332 students
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
Grades: K-6
| 311 students
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
South Shores Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
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: #99.
Parsons Elementary School
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 8%)
Rank:
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: #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
Grades: K-6
| 401 students
Rank: #1111.
Dennis Lab School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 4%)
Rank:
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: #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
Grades: K-8
| 364 students
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
Grades: 7-8
| 467 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Franklin Grove Elementary School
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 2%)
Rank:
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: #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
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 #860 out of 864 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, 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 $21,662. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
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