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Stephen Decatur Middle School

Public Grades 7-8

1321^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 3% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Stephen Decatur Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 7-8 in Decatur, Illinois, which is part of the Decatur School District 61. With 467 students, the school consistently ranks among the lowest-performing middle schools in Illinois, significantly underperforming the state averages across academic subjects.

The school faces significant challenges, including extremely high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 45.3% to 60.8% in recent years, which are much higher than the state average. Additionally, a large majority of the student population (over 60%) comes from low-income families, as indicated by the high percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, such as African American, White, and Special Education students, who rank in the bottom 50 or even bottom 10 percentiles among Illinois middle schools.

Interestingly, the nearby middle schools, such as Deland-Weldon Middle School, Bement Middle School, and Warrensburg-Latham Middle School, generally perform much better than Stephen Decatur Middle School across various metrics, including academic achievement, chronic absenteeism, and socioeconomic status. Despite being a low-performing school for many years, Stephen Decatur Middle School has not shown significant improvement in its academic performance or other key metrics.

413

Students ?

17.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,682

Per pupil spending ?

85.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1 Educational Park
Decatur, IL 62526-2548

(217) 362-3251

District: Decatur School District 61

Students who attend Stephen Decatur Middle School usually attend:

High:	Eisenhower High School
	MacArthur High School

Feeder schools for Stephen Decatur Middle School:

Elementary:	Franklin Grove Elementary School
	Michael E Baum Elementary School
	Muffley Elementary School
	Parsons Elementary School
	More...
	South Shores Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

53.0%

White:

29.1%

Two or more races:

13.6%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Stephen Decatur Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 4th percentile in 2015 → 3rd in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (13% vs 46% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (61% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school13%

District avg15%

Illinois avg46%

1,321^st of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

806^th of 811Decatur School District 61 among Illinois districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	9.6	1321 of 1368	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.7	1356 of 1363	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.6	1343 of 1367	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.7	1355 of 1369	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.9	1200 of 1241	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.9	1219 of 1356	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.7	1217 of 1293	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	9.4	1253 of 1293	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	12.8	1205 of 1294	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	10.8	1245 of 1302	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	10.1	1227 of 1322	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	7.9	1297 of 1367	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	15.6	1214 of 1365	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	26.3	1092 of 1344	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	21.9	1107 of 1327	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	13.1	1174 of 1318	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	17.6	1097 of 1293	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	12.3	1138 of 1287	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	10.6	1141 of 1272	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	14.3	1027 of 1209	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	17.8	981 of 1204	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	15.5	991 of 1185	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	17.2	542 of 574	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.0	547 of 548	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.6	569 of 569	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.0	569 of 573	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	23.9	355 of 385	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.2	498 of 565	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.2	504 of 511	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	20.8	638 of 694	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	22.8	584 of 639	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	23.0	621 of 674	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	9.5	1196 of 1248	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.9	1245 of 1251	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.6	1260 of 1275	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.9	1272 of 1286	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.5	999 of 1017	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.9	1137 of 1276	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.8	1150 of 1226	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	13.3	1175 of 1229	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.2	1217 of 1219	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.4	1220 of 1234	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.3	1216 of 1221	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.2	1000 of 1019	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.4	1108 of 1217	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.0	1105 of 1161	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	10.6	1219 of 1271	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.5	1234 of 1264	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.8	1250 of 1292	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.0	1225 of 1286	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.8	1008 of 1048	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.4	1200 of 1296	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	12.3	1151 of 1223	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	9.7	193 of 204	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.8	179 of 184	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.3	183 of 194	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.4	195 of 195	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.2	97 of 97	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	6.8	176 of 179	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	9.4	162 of 164	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	14.4	783 of 812	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.6	773 of 802	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.5	788 of 805	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	26.8	734 of 781	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	26.0	472 of 548	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.6	756 of 792	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	24.6	570 of 602	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	3.8	875 of 884	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.5	872 of 875	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.9	892 of 895	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.8	895 of 898	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	6.6	812 of 813	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.5	866 of 905	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	7.9	862 of 889	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2025)8th percentile+5 vs school

African American (2025)6th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)5th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)4th percentile~ school

Female (2025)4th percentile~ school

Male (2025)4th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)4th percentile~ school

White (2025)1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

Science19%-26 vs state

English Language Arts13%-40 vs state

Mathematics6%-33 vs state

★

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Schools Near Stephen Decatur Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				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)	% 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	ISA Science 5th Grade	ISA Science 8th 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 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	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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
Warrensburg-Latham Middle School	Public	6-8	425 W North St	Warrensburg	62573	Macon County	Warrensburg-Latham CUSD 11	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 672-3531	203	15	13.7	51.7%	156 (76.8%)	11 (5.4%)	7 (3.4%)	7 (3.4%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (10.3%)	75.2	296^th of 1368 public middle schools	78.4%		71.9	326^th of 1363 public middle schools	76.1%	30		51.4			66.1	90.2	80.0	78.8			30.6	47.5	35.7	37.8	94.9	94.9	94.9	94.9	94.9	94.9	94.9	94.9	$11,958	$235	$11,723
Mt Zion Junior High School	Public	7-8	315 S Henderson St	Mount Zion	62549	Macon County	Mt Zion CUSD 3	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 864-2369	378	23	16.3	26.7%	330 (87.3%)	9 (2.4%)	13 (3.4%)	7 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.0%)	64.2	434^th of 1368 public middle schools	68.3%		59.6	454^th of 1363 public middle schools	66.7%	20		55.9				58.8	62.4	60.8				41.8	26.7	33.6	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.3	$11,445	$436	$11,009
Mt Zion Intermediate School	Public	4-6	310 S Henderson St	Mount Zion	62549	Macon County	Mt Zion CUSD 3	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 864-2921	557	32	17.2	30.5%	507 (91.0%)	14 (2.5%)	9 (1.6%)	6 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (3.6%)								(n/a)	50.3		48.4	54.7	59.0			54.2	46.7	44.1	42.7			44.5	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	62.8	99.4	99.4	29.0	$10,646	$688	$9,958
Argenta-Oreana Middle School	Public	6-8	200 E East St	Argenta	62501	Macon County	Argenta-Oreana CUSD 1	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 795-2163	180	14	13.1	60.0%	144 (80.0%)	9 (5.0%)	10 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (9.4%)	49.9	623^rd of 1368 public middle schools	54.5%		47.6	622^nd of 1363 public middle schools	54.4%	1		37.1			65.1	48.9	48.4	54.7			31.7	28.9	24.2	28.2	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.4	98.3	94.9	$14,263	$541	$13,722
Maroa-Forsyth Middle School	Public	6-8	101 S Cedar St	Maroa	61756	Macon County	Maroa Forsyth CUSD 2	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 794-5115	271	15	18.2	31.0%	217 (80.1%)	9 (3.3%)	7 (2.6%)	22 (8.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	15 (5.5%)	74.7	301^st of 1368 public middle schools	78.0%		76.2	272^nd of 1363 public middle schools	80.0%	29		42.6			83.2	60.7	80.9	75.0			45.8	39.3	42.6	42.8	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	97.2	$10,842	$722	$10,120
Meridian Middle School	Public	6-8	728 S Wall St	Macon	62544	Macon County	Meridian CUSD 15	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 764-3367	195	16	12.1	42.6%	178 (91.3%)	4 (2.1%)	5 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.1%)	42.8	732^nd of 1368 public middle schools	46.5%		44.9	672^nd of 1363 public middle schools	50.7%	60		37.9			47.8	37.9	54.5	47.1			28.8	25.9	22.7	25.8	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	98.5	$13,315	$68	$13,247
Sangamon Valley Middle School	Public	6-8	341 Matilda St	Illiopolis	62539	Sangamon County	Sangamon Valley CUSD 9	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 486-2241	145	13	11.1	62.8%	138 (95.2%)	2 (1.4%)	3 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	48.4	645^th of 1368 public middle schools	52.9%		24.9	1004^th of 1363 public middle schools	26.3%	359		61.9			45.5	43.5	76.2	53.8			20.0	23.9	11.9	18.9	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.3	100.0	99.3	100.0	$14,404	$125	$14,280
Clinton Junior High School	Public	6-8	701 Illini Dr	Clinton	61727	De Witt County	Clinton CUSD 15	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 935-2103	385	35	10.9	53.8%	335 (87.0%)	3 (0.8%)	29 (7.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.2%)	39.9	775^th of 1368 public middle schools	43.3%		44.2	684^th of 1363 public middle schools	49.8%	91		34.4			52.7	42.4	58.0	50.8			11.9	22.3	22.1	19.3	97.6	97.4	97.4	97.4	97.6	97.1	97.1	93.7	$20,316	$1,188	$19,128
Deland-Weldon Middle School	Public	6-8	2311 N 300 East Rd	Weldon	61882	Piatt County	Deland-Weldon CUSD 57	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 928-7691	28	4	6.8	53.6%	25 (89.3%)	1 (3.6%)	1 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.6%)	20.8	1098^th of 1368 public middle schools	19.7%		31.9	866^th of 1363 public middle schools	36.5%	232		36.4					27.3	28.6					0.0	21.4	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	$21,724	$93	$21,631

Frequently Asked Questions about Stephen Decatur Middle School

What high school do graduates of Stephen Decatur Middle School attend?

Students who attend Stephen Decatur Middle School usually go on to attend Eisenhower High School

What is the racial makeup of Stephen Decatur Middle School?

Students at Stephen Decatur Middle School are 53% African American, 29% White, 14% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

What district is Stephen Decatur Middle School in?

Decatur School District 61

Is Stephen Decatur Middle School a good school?

Stephen Decatur Middle School ranks in the bottom 3.4% of Illinois middle schools.

How many students attend Stephen Decatur Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 413 students attended Stephen Decatur Middle School.

Rate Stephen Decatur Middle School!

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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.