Summary:
The city of Decatur, Illinois is home to two high schools: MacArthur High School and Eisenhower High School, both serving grades 9-12 and part of the Decatur School District 61. Based on the available data, neither school stands out as an exceptional performer, as both are ranked in the bottom half of Illinois high schools and rated 1 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger.
Academically, both MacArthur High School and Eisenhower High School struggle, with significantly lower proficiency rates compared to the state average in subjects like English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 21.6% of 11th-grade students at MacArthur High School were proficient or better in ACT English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 51.7%. Similarly, only 8.7% of 11th-grade students at Eisenhower High School were proficient or better in ACT Mathematics, compared to the state average of 39.3%. Both schools also have slightly below-average four-year graduation rates and higher-than-average dropout rates.
Interestingly, the high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch at both schools, around 55-58%, suggests a relatively high proportion of students from low-income families. This socioeconomic factor may be a contributing factor to the schools' lower academic performance. However, the relatively high per-student spending and student-teacher ratios at both schools indicate that resources may not be the primary driver of the schools' underperformance, and other factors, such as curriculum, teaching quality, and school leadership, may play a more significant role in shaping student outcomes.
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