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 2026 school year, there are 13 public elementary schools serving 5,007 students in Decatur School District 61. 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 School District 61 have an average math proficiency score of 4% (versus the Illinois public elementary school average of 27%), 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
3,103 Schools
# Students
7,827 Students
1,223,907 Students
# Teachers
424 Teachers
89,930 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.
Overall District Rank
#852 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
4%
27%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
6%
30%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
50%
Graduation Rate
72%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.65
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
6%
27%
% Black
51%
17%
% White
28%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
14%
5%
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 17% 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 41% 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 School District 61 Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: K-12
Rank: #22.
Johns Hill Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 10%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3350
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:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3390
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:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2240 E Geddes Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 428-7072
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 428-7072
Gr: PK-8 | 332 students Student-teacher ratio: 55:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Michael E Baum Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
801 S Lake Ridge Ave
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3521
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3521
Gr: K-6 | 311 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
South Shores Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3321
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3321
Gr: K-6 | 338 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #77.
Parsons Elementary School
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 8%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3330
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3330
Gr: K-6 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #88.
Muffley Elementary School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
88 S Country Club Rd
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3341
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3341
Gr: K-6 | 401 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #99.
Dennis Lab School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 4%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
300 E Eldorado St
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3511
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3511
Gr: K-8 | 539 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1010.
American Dreamer Stem Academy
(Math: 2% | Reading: 3%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2115 S Taylor Rd
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3380
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3380
Gr: K-8 | 364 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Franklin Grove Elementary School
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 2%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3561
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3561
Gr: K-6 | 474 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Hope Academy
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 2%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
955 N Illinois St
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3280
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3280
Gr: K-8 | 498 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
