Parsons Elementary School

601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(School attendance zone shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 488 students in grades Kindergarten-6, Parsons Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Illinois for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is ≤5% (which is lower than the Illinois state average of 28%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 8% (which is lower than the Illinois state average of 30%).
The student:teacher ratio of 17:1 is higher than the Illinois state level of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Illinois state average of 55% (majority Hispanic and Black).

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Grades: Kindergarten-6
  • Enrollment: 488 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 72%
  • : Bottom 50% in IL
  • : ≤5% (Btm 50%)
  • : 8% (Btm 50%)
  • : 20-24% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Parsons Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Illinois for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

Parsons Elementary School's student population of 488 students has grown by 58% over five school years.
The teacher population of 28 teachers has grown by 75% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-6
Total Students
488 students
This chart displays total students of Parsons Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Parsons Elementary School
Total Classroom Teachers
28 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Parsons Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Parsons Elementary School by grade.

School Rankings

Parsons Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 3,426 schools in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Parsons Elementary School is 0.68, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.70. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (IL)
#3138 out of 3426 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Parsons Elementary School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
(20-21)
≤5%
28%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Parsons Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Illinois by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
8%
30%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Parsons Elementary School 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.
20-24%
50%
Student : Teacher Ratio
17:1
13:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Parsons Elementary School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Illinois by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
1%
1%
Asian
n/a
6%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Parsons Elementary School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Hispanic
6%
28%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Parsons Elementary School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
45%
16%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Parsons Elementary School and the percentage of Black public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
28%
45%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Parsons Elementary School and the percentage of White public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
20%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Parsons Elementary School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Illinois by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Parsons Elementary School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in Illinois.
0.68
This chart displays the diversity score of Parsons Elementary School and the public school average diversity score of Illinois by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Free Lunch
35%
43%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Parsons Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Illinois by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch (15-16)
1%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Parsons Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Illinois by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Parsons Elementary School's ranking?
Parsons Elementary School is ranked #3138 out of 3,426 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Illinois.
What schools are Parsons Elementary School often compared to?
Parsons Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Dennis Lab School, Franklin Grove Elementary School, Garfield Learning Academy by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
≤5% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 28% IL state average), while 8% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 30% IL state average).
How many students attend Parsons Elementary School?
488 students attend Parsons Elementary School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
45% of Parsons Elementary School students are Black, 28% of students are White, 20% of students are Two or more races, 6% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are American Indian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Parsons Elementary School?
Parsons Elementary School has a student ration of 17:1, which is higher than the Illinois state average of 13:1.
What grades does Parsons Elementary School offer ?
Parsons Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-6
What school district is Parsons Elementary School part of?
Parsons Elementary School is part of Decatur SD 61 School District.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • Grades: Kindergarten-6
  • Enrollment: 488 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 72%
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : ≤5% (Btm 50%)
  • : 8% (Btm 50%)
  • : 20-24% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

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