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 13 public elementary schools serving 5,007 students in Decatur SD 61 School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Illinois.
Public Elementary Schools in Decatur SD 61 School District have an average math proficiency score of 4% (versus the Illinois public elementary school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 6% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 73% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Illinois public elementary school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
17 Schools
3,104 Schools
# Students
7,827 Students
1,223,907 Students
# Teachers
424 Teachers
89,922 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
District Rank
Decatur SD 61 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 844 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-2021 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 70% has decreased from 72% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#850 out of 852 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)3%
28%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
6%
30%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
50%
Graduation Rate
70%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.65
0.71
# American Indian Students
21 Students
2,875 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
45 Students
66,874 Students
% Asian Students
1%
6%
# Hispanic Students
478 Students
327,522 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
27%
# Black Students
3,957 Students
200,526 Students
% Black Students
51%
17%
# White Students
2,184 Students
537,078 Students
% White Students
28%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
7 Students
1,010 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,135 Students
52,605 Students
% of Two or more races Students
14%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
504
55,955
# Students in K Grade:
606
116,411
# Students in 1st Grade:
648
126,375
# Students in 2nd Grade:
629
167,370
# Students in 3rd Grade:
608
130,315
# Students in 4th Grade:
611
130,334
# Students in 5th Grade:
587
129,913
# Students in 6th Grade:
570
132,181
# Students in 7th Grade:
527
113,007
# Students in 8th Grade:
559
113,824
# Students in 9th Grade:
510
2,377
# Students in 10th Grade:
510
2,138
# Students in 11th Grade:
479
1,882
# Students in 12th Grade:
479
1,813
# Ungraded Students:
-
12
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.
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 SD 61 School District Public Elementary 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.
Johns Hill Magnet School
Magnet School
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: #33.
Montessori Academy For Peace
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: #44.
Parsons Elementary School
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: #55.
Robertson Charter School
Charter School
Rank:
1/
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: #66.
Muffley Elementary School
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: #7 - 87. - 8.
Michael E Baum Elementary School
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
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.
Franklin Grove Elementary School
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: #1010.
Dennis Lab School
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: #1111.
American Dreamer Stem Academy
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: #1212.
Hope Academy
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
620 E Garfield Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3310
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3310
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
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