Decatur SD 61 School District

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

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.
This School District
State Average (IL)
#850 out of 852 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Decatur SD 61  School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
(20-21)
3%
28%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Decatur SD 61  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Illinois by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
6%
30%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Decatur SD 61  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
21%
50%
70%
87%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Decatur SD 61  School District and public school graduation rate of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

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.
This School District
This State (IL)
Total Revenue
$133 MM
$41,381 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Decatur SD 61  School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Illinois by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$162 MM
$39,976 MM
This chart displays total spending of Decatur SD 61  School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Illinois by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$16,962
$21,990
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Decatur SD 61  School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Illinois by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$20,754
$21,244
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Decatur SD 61  School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Illinois by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Decatur SD 61 School District Public Middle Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Rank: #22.
Johns Hill Magnet School
Magnet School
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3350
Grades: K-8
| 623 students
Rank: #33.
Montessori Academy For Peace
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3390
Grades: PK-8
| 639 students
Rank: #44.
Robertson Charter School
Charter School
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2240 E Geddes Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 428-7072
Grades: PK-8
| 332 students
Rank: #55.
Dennis Lab School
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
300 E Eldorado St
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3511
Grades: K-8
| 539 students
Rank: #66.
American Dreamer Stem Academy
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2115 S Taylor Rd
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3380
Grades: K-8
| 364 students
Rank: #77.
Stephen Decatur Middle School
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1 Educational Park
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3251
Grades: 7-8
| 467 students
Rank: #88.
Hope Academy
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
955 N Illinois St
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
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 17 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 7,827 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 19:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 72%
  • : 70% (Btm 50% in IL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 3% (Btm 50%)
  • : 6% (Btm 50%)
  • : 21% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

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