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 9 public middle schools serving 3,462 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 3% (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
1,600 Schools
# Students
7,827 Students
621,275 Students
# Teachers
424 Teachers
47,956 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
1,364 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
45 Students
32,125 Students
% Asian Students
1%
5%
# Hispanic Students
478 Students
185,771 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
30%
# Black Students
3,957 Students
133,271 Students
% Black Students
51%
22%
# White Students
2,184 Students
244,693 Students
% White Students
28%
39%
# Hawaiian Students
7 Students
608 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,135 Students
23,281 Students
% of Two or more races Students
14%
4%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
504
19,756
# Students in K Grade:
606
27,178
# Students in 1st Grade:
648
28,250
# Students in 2nd Grade:
629
29,179
# Students in 3rd Grade:
608
29,629
# Students in 4th Grade:
611
30,553
# Students in 5th Grade:
587
38,342
# Students in 6th Grade:
570
109,327
# Students in 7th Grade:
527
135,557
# Students in 8th Grade:
559
137,502
# Students in 9th Grade:
510
9,488
# Students in 10th Grade:
510
9,079
# Students in 11th Grade:
479
8,909
# Students in 12th Grade:
479
8,526
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
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 Middle 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.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
Stephen Decatur Middle School
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: #88.
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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