Decatur School District 61

Summary:

The Decatur School District 61 in Illinois encompasses 15 schools, including 12 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools. The district serves a diverse student population, with some schools performing significantly better than others on key metrics like test scores and graduation rates.

A few schools stand out as high performers within the district. Montessori Academy for Peace, a K-8 school, has the highest English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency among the elementary and middle schools. Robertson Charter School also performs well, with the highest English Language Arts proficiency across all grades. Additionally, Michael E Baum Elementary School has the second-highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics among the district's elementary schools.

However, the majority of schools in the Decatur School District 61 struggle to meet state averages on standardized tests, with proficiency rates often less than half the state's. The district's high schools, MacArthur High School and Eisenhower High School, have graduation rates on par with the state average, but their test scores remain significantly below state levels. The data suggests a correlation between a school's performance and its percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that socioeconomic factors may play a significant role in the district's educational outcomes.

District Detail

101 W Cerro Gordo St
Decatur, IL 62523-1001

(217) 362-3010

SchoolDigger Rank:
806^th of 811 Illinois districts

See the 2025 Illinois District rankings!

Grades served: PK, KG-12
Students: 7,840

Primary Schools: 11
Middle Schools: 1
High Schools: 2
Alternative Schools: 1

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PreACT Secure English Language Arts (2025)		PreACT Secure Mathematics (2025)		PreACT Secure Science (2025)		ACT English Language Arts (2025)	ACT Mathematics (2025)	ACT Science (2025)	ISA Science (2025)		IAR English Language Arts (2025)							IAR Mathematics (2025)							% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Pneumococcal (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 9th Grade	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 10th Grade	ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Science 11th Grade	ISA Science 5th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 3rd Grade	IAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Pneumococcal All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Montessori Academy for Peace	Public	PK, KG-8	4735 E Cantrell St	Decatur	62521	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 362-3390	586	40	14.6	52.9%	271 (46.2%)	186 (31.7%)	8 (1.4%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	116 (19.8%)	26.6	1521^st of 2056 public elementary schools	26.0%		25.1	1541^st of 2067 public elementary schools	25.4%	20										38.1	38.8	15.4	35.2	44.4	45.7	34.6	38.8	35.8	17.3	14.8	19.0	13.0	13.5	8.2	14.6	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	98.1	97.4	97.7	13.4	25.3	$18,865	$2,231	$16,634
Dennis Lab School	Public	K-8	300 Meadow Terrace Pl	Decatur	62521	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 362-3511	579	35	16.5	84.6%	164 (28.3%)	289 (49.9%)	43 (7.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (14.0%)	7.7	2008^th of 2056 public elementary schools	2.3%		11.8	1980^th of 2067 public elementary schools	4.2%	28										17.9	17.4	16.0	7.4	14.5	6.1	17.2	4.3	10.6	7.8	1.9	5.4	4.6	9.4	2.9	5.3	91.9	94.2	94.2	94.2	98.9	94.0	94.0		27.6	$16,353	$1,930	$14,423
Franklin Grove Elementary School	Public	K-6	2440 N Summit Ave	Decatur	62526	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 362-3561	461	25	18.5	89.8%	106 (23.0%)	243 (52.7%)	15 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	97 (21.0%)	5.5	2043^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	0.6%		9.7	2045^th of 2067 public elementary schools	1.1%	2										4.8		6.1	12.7	6.6	9.4			8.6	3.0	4.8	3.3	1.9			3.3	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.7	98.1	98.1		9.3	$16,270	$2,258	$14,011
Eisenhower High School	Public	9-12	1200 S 16th St	Decatur	62521	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 362-3100	909	53	17.1	76.7%	295 (32.5%)	433 (47.6%)	52 (5.7%)	5 (0.6%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	121 (13.3%)	16.2	578^th of 698 public high schools	17.2%		14.7	604^th of 697 public high schools	13.3%	26	36.9	32.8	9.7	11.8	36.7	19.5	16.5	8.7	19.3																	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.8	99.6	99.8		94.1	$16,746	$848	$15,898
American Dreamer STEM Academy	Public	K-8	2115 S Taylor Rd	Decatur	62521	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 362-3380	423	28	15.1	89.1%	70 (16.5%)	282 (66.7%)	12 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	58 (13.7%)	8.6	1982^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	3.6%		11	2014^th of 2067 public elementary schools	2.6%	32										14.9	21.6	4.3	22.7	14.9	16.7	14.6	28.9	16.5	12.8	6.8	4.3	4.2	0.0	5.3	5.5	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4		30.6	$20,443	$5,488	$14,955
Muffley Elementary School	Public	K-6	88 S Country Club Rd	Decatur	62521	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 362-3341	386	22	17.5	84.5%	130 (33.7%)	188 (48.7%)	17 (4.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	49 (12.7%)	8.9	1974^th of 2056 public elementary schools	4.0%		11.9	1978^th of 2067 public elementary schools	4.3%	4										15.5		15.3	14.0	10.3	23.5			15.6	13.6	6.0	1.7	6.0			6.9	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	100.0	99.2	98.7		8.1	$17,847	$2,601	$15,246
MacArthur High School	Public	9-12	1499 W Grand Ave	Decatur	62522	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 362-3152	1,059	53	19.9	73.0%	291 (27.5%)	536 (50.6%)	80 (7.6%)	6 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	144 (13.6%)	17.2	573^rd of 698 public high schools	17.9%		21.6	532^nd of 697 public high schools	23.7%	41	34.3	40.9	8.2	9.1	25.4	30.3	21.6	11.0	19.6																	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6		95.9	$15,193	$740	$14,453
South Shores Elementary School	Public	K-6	2500 S Franklin Street Rd	Decatur	62521	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 362-3321	335	18	18.4	87.2%	88 (26.3%)	171 (51.0%)	12 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (18.2%)	6.2	2034^th of 2056 public elementary schools	1.1%		9.7	2044^th of 2067 public elementary schools	1.1%	10										7.1		12.5	13.2	2.4	17.0			11.4	8.3	5.3	2.4	0.0			4.0	95.6	95.9	95.9	95.9	97.8	95.9	95.9		10.4	$17,564	$2,789	$14,774
Michael E Baum Elementary School	Public	K-6	801 S Lake Ridge Ave	Decatur	62521	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 362-3521	313	17	18.4	86.6%	100 (31.9%)	129 (41.2%)	13 (4.2%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (21.7%)	14.7	1792^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	12.8%		13.7	1903^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	7.9%	111										16.2		17.0	25.6	21.6	32.4			23.6	13.3	25.6	5.7	8.8			13.7	96.9	97.2	97.2	97.2	98.8	97.2	96.9		10.2	$17,892	$2,273	$15,619
Parsons Elementary School	Public	K-6	3591 N MacArthur Rd	Decatur	62526	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 362-3330	505	32	15.7	89.5%	134 (26.5%)	248 (49.1%)	29 (5.7%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	87 (17.2%)	7.9	2001^st of 2056 public elementary schools	2.7%		10.1	2032^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	1.7%	31										12.7		13.9	16.7	19.0	5.1			14.0	12.5	6.4	6.6	0.0			6.7	95.7	95.7	95.7	95.7	84.2	95.7	95.7		10.2	$16,395	$2,306	$14,088
Stephen Decatur Middle School	Public	7-8	1 Educational Park	Decatur	62526	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 362-3251	413	23	17.9	85.7%	120 (29.1%)	219 (53.0%)	18 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (13.6%)	9.6	1321^st of 1368 public middle schools	3.4%		8.7	1356^th of 1363 public middle schools	0.5%	35											19.2					9.0	17.0	12.8					7.1	3.7	5.5	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.8	99.2	99.6		98.1	$26,682	$8,939	$17,743
Robertson Charter School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	2240 E Geddes Ave	Decatur	62526	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 428-7072	327	11	29.7	63.9%	4 (1.2%)	292 (89.3%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (8.0%)	12.4	1862^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	9.4%		20.9	1657^th of 2067 public elementary schools	19.8%	205										7.1	21.6	24.0	21.4	35.7	27.6	30.8	42.1	31.0	8.0	3.6	10.7	3.4	2.6	7.9	5.9										$20,000	$1,381	$18,619
Johns Hill Magnet School	Public	K-8	1025 E Johns Ave	Decatur	62521	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 362-3350	627	41	15.2	79.7%	97 (15.5%)	248 (39.6%)	190 (30.3%)	22 (3.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (10.8%)	13.3	1838^th of 2056 public elementary schools	10.6%		15.6	1825^th of 2067 public elementary schools	11.7%	13										18.8	22.4	20.3	19.0	17.2	23.5	24.2	17.9	20.4	15.6	17.5	7.8	13.2	19.4	3.0	12.6	95.5	95.3	95.3	95.3	96.7	95.5	95.6		31.4	$18,151	$2,446	$15,705
Pershing Early Learning Center	Public	PK	2912 N University Ave	Decatur	62526	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 362-3301	416	16	26.0	81.5%	96 (23.1%)	196 (47.1%)	36 (8.7%)	7 (1.7%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	77 (18.5%)								(n/a)																										98.3	95.8	95.8	95.8	95.8	95.8	95.8	95.8		$20,471	$856	$19,616
Hope Academy	Public	K-8	955 N Illinois St	Decatur	62521	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 362-3280	501	36	13.9	93.8%	98 (19.6%)	320 (63.9%)	17 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (13.2%)	4.3	2056^th of 2056 public elementary schools	0.0%		7.9	2067^th of 2067 public elementary schools	0.0%	11										2.0	12.2	0.0	9.8	2.0	3.9	0.0	4.8	3.1	3.6	4.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.4	1.7	97.7	98.1	98.1	98.1	99.8	97.9	98.1		23.7	$18,499	$2,201	$16,298
Decatur Pub. Schs. Alternative Education	Public, Alternative	K-12	1 N Educational Park Dr	Decatur	62526	Macon County	Decatur School District 61	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 362-3361	0	7	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)																										100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0		45.5

Districts nearby

District	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Macon/Piatt ROE	3.54 mi	5
Mt Zion CUSD 3	3.89 mi	5
Macon-Piatt Special Educ Jnt Agr	4.07 mi	1
Argenta-Oreana CUSD 1	7.15 mi	3	458^th
Maroa Forsyth CUSD 2	7.65 mi	3	192^nd

See the top IL Illinois districts

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.