Best Public Schools in Decatur, IL

The city of Decatur, Illinois is home to 15 schools, including 12 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools, all part of the Decatur School District 61. While the district as a whole is ranked 806 out of 811 school districts in Illinois and rated 0 stars by SchoolDigger, a few standout schools within the district are performing significantly better than the rest.

Montessori Academy for Peace, an elementary/middle school, has the highest performance on English Language Arts and Mathematics tests compared to the district and state averages. Similarly, Robertson Charter School, a public charter elementary/middle school, also outperforms the district average. Additionally, Michael E Baum Elementary School has higher proficiency rates in both ELA and Mathematics compared to the district.

However, the district as a whole faces significant challenges, including high rates of chronic absenteeism, low graduation rates, and a large gap between district and state averages in proficiency rates for ELA and Mathematics. The district also has a wide range in spending per student and student-teacher ratios, suggesting potential inequities in resource allocation. By identifying the standout schools and understanding the key metrics, district leaders can work to implement effective strategies and best practices to raise academic achievement across all schools in the Decatur School District.