ÎÛÎÛÂþ»­

Decatur School District 61

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

Top Rankings

Decatur School District 61 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 2025-26 school year, there are 9 public middle schools serving 3,462 students in Decatur School District 61. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Illinois.
ÎÛÎÛÂþ»­ Middle Schools in Decatur School District 61 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 74% 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
17 Schools
1,599 Schools
# Students
7,827 Students
621,275 Students
# Teachers
424 Teachers
47,955 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Decatur School District 61, 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.
This School District
State Average (IL)
#852 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
4%
27%
6%
30%
21%
50%
72%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.65
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
6%
30%
% Black
51%
22%
% White
28%
39%
% 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.
This School District
This State (IL)
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 School District 61 ÎÛÎÛÂþ»­ Middle Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Garfield Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
300 Meadow Terrace Pl, Dianne
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%
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3350
Gr: K-8 | 623 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #33.
Montessori Academy For Peace
(Math: 6% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3390
Gr: PK-8 | 639 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
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 | 332 students Student-teacher ratio: 55:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #55.
Dennis Lab School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 4%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
300 E Eldorado St
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3511
Gr: K-8 | 539 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
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 | 364 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
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 | 467 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
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 | 498 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: n/an/a
620 E Garfield Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3310
Gr: PK-12

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 17 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 7,827 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 72%
  • : 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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