Item: Decatur School District 61
Rating: 1
Author: �鶹������ý

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Decatur School District 61

101 W Cerro Gordo St
Decatur, IL 62523-1001

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (217) 362-3010

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">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 4 public preschools serving 1,346 students in Decatur School District 61. This district's average pre is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Illinois.

Public Preschools in Decatur School District 61 have an score of 6% (versus the Illinois public pre school average of 23%), and score of 11% (versus the 25% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 71% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Illinois public preschool average of 58% (majority Hispanic).

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">Overview

This School District

This State (IL)

# Schools

17 Schools

1,386 Schools

# Students

7,827 Students

511,993 Students

# Teachers

424 Teachers

38,166 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

19:1

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="student-by-grade">Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
Pre-K	504	79
Kind	87	74
1	96	71
2	97	69
3	84	59
4	102	56
5	82	49
6	98	29
7	101	23
8	95	23

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="district-rank">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.

This School District

State Average (IL)

#852 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Decatur School District 61
2023	#852
2022	#850
2021	#920
2019	#912
2018	#888
2017	#844
2016	#834
2015	#808
2014	#796
2013	#803
2012	#763

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27%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	4%	27%
2021	3%	28%
2019	7%	33%
2018	8%	32%
2017	8%	32%
2016	8%	31%
2015	9%	29%
2014	39%	59%
2013	38%	58%
2012	68%	80%
2011	73%	80%

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30%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2022	6%	30%
2021	6%	32%
2019	12%	38%
2018	8%	37%
2017	15%	38%
2016	15%	36%
2015	17%	38%
2014	39%	57%
2013	42%	58%
2012	62%	75%
2011	67%	75%

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21%

50%

72%

87%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	72%	87%
2022	70%	87%
2018	76%	87%
2017	78%	87%
2016	72%	85%
2015	74%	85%
2014	72%	86%
2013	66%	83%
2012	60%	82%
2011	71%	83%

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="students-by-ethnicity">Students by Ethnicity:

0.65

0.70

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	0.63	0.70
2022	0.64	0.68
2021	0.64	0.68
2020	0.63	0.68
2019	0.63	0.68
2018	0.62	0.67
2017	0.62	0.67
2016	0.63	0.67
2015	0.61	0.67
2014	0.63	0.66
2013	0.63	0.66
2012	0.62	0.65
2011	0.62	0.66
2010	0.54	0.64
2009	0.54	0.64
2008	0.55	0.64
2007	0.54	0.63
2006	0.54	0.61
2005	0.53	0.61
2004	0.53	0.60
2003	0.52	0.59
2002	0.52	0.59
2001	0.51	0.58
2000	0.51	0.57
1999	0.50	0.56
1998	0.50	0.56
1997	0.49	0.54
1996	0.48	0.53
1995	0.47	0.53
1994	0.47	0.52
1993	0.46	0.52
1992	0.45	0.52
1991	0.45	0.52

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% American Indian

n/a

% Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1989-2023)
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	1%	6%
2022	1%	5%
2021	2%	5%
2016	1%	5%
2015	2%	6%
2014	1%	5%
2013	1%	5%
2012	1%	4%
2011	2%	5%
2010	3%	5%
2009	3%	5%
2008	3%	5%
2007	3%	5%
2006	2%	5%
2005	2%	5%
2004	1%	4%
2003	1%	4%
2002	1%	4%
2001	1%	4%
2000	1%	3%
1999	1%	3%
1998	1%	3%
1995	1%	3%
1994	1%	3%
1993	1%	3%
1992	1%	3%
1991	1%	3%
1989	1%	3%

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% Hispanic

32%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	5%	27%
2022	4%	27%
2021	4%	27%
2020	5%	26%
2019	5%	26%
2018	3%	26%
2017	3%	26%
2016	3%	26%
2015	4%	25%
2014	3%	25%
2013	3%	24%
2012	3%	24%
2011	2%	23%
2010	4%	22%
2009	4%	22%
2008	4%	21%
2007	4%	20%
2006	3%	19%
2005	3%	18%
2004	1%	18%
2003	1%	17%
2002	1%	16%
2001	1%	15%
2000	1%	15%
1999	1%	14%

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% Black

51%

18%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	50%	17%
2022	49%	17%
2021	48%	17%
2020	47%	17%
2019	47%	17%
2018	47%	17%
2017	47%	17%
2016	46%	17%
2015	45%	17%
2014	45%	17%
2013	45%	18%
2012	45%	18%
2011	45%	18%
2010	47%	20%
2009	47%	20%
2008	46%	20%
2007	45%	20%
2006	46%	20%
2005	44%	20%
2004	46%	21%
2003	45%	21%
2002	44%	21%
2001	42%	21%
2000	41%	21%
1999	40%	21%
1998	38%	21%
1997	38%	20%
1996	37%	21%
1995	36%	20%
1994	35%	21%
1993	33%	21%
1992	32%	21%
1991	32%	21%

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% White

28%

42%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	32%	45%
2022	33%	47%
2021	34%	47%
2020	37%	48%
2019	37%	48%
2018	39%	49%
2017	39%	49%
2016	39%	49%
2015	39%	49%
2014	40%	50%
2013	41%	50%
2012	42%	51%
2011	42%	51%
2010	46%	53%
2009	46%	53%
2008	47%	54%
2007	48%	55%
2006	49%	56%
2005	51%	57%
2004	52%	57%
2003	53%	58%
2002	54%	59%
2001	56%	60%
2000	57%	61%
1999	58%	62%
1998	60%	63%
1997	62%	64%
1996	63%	64%
1995	63%	65%
1994	64%	65%
1993	66%	65%
1992	67%	66%
1991	67%	66%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

14%

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	12%	4%
2022	13%	4%
2021	12%	4%
2020	11%	4%
2019	11%	4%
2018	11%	3%
2017	11%	3%
2016	11%	3%
2015	10%	3%
2014	11%	3%
2013	10%	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="district-revenue-and-spending">District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,962 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,430. 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 $21,668. The school district spending/student has grown by 41% over four school years.

This School District

This State (IL)

Total Revenue

$133 MM

$41,381 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	$133 MM	$15 MM
2022	$127 MM	$14 MM
2021	$133 MM	$15 MM
2020	$127 MM	$14 MM
2019	$125 MM	$14 MM
2018	$107 MM	$15 MM
2017	$122 MM	$13 MM
2016	$116 MM	$12 MM
2015	$103 MM	$10 MM
2014	$111 MM	$12 MM
2012	$105 MM	$11 MM
2011	$109 MM	$11 MM
2010	$103 MM	$10 MM
2009	$99 MM	$10 MM
2008	$95 MM	$9 MM
2007	$92 MM	$9 MM
2006	$86 MM	$8 MM
2005	$88 MM	$8 MM
2004	$89 MM	$8 MM
2003	$77 MM	$7 MM
2002	$74 MM	$8 MM
2001	$72 MM	$7 MM
2000	$70 MM	$7 MM
1999	$68 MM	$7 MM
1998	$63 MM	$6 MM
1997	$62 MM	$5 MM
1996	$62 MM	$5 MM
1995	$59 MM	$5 MM

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Spending

$162 MM

$39,976 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	$162 MM	$14 MM
2022	$128 MM	$14 MM
2021	$162 MM	$14 MM
2020	$128 MM	$14 MM
2019	$117 MM	$13 MM
2018	$115 MM	$14 MM
2017	$119 MM	$12 MM
2016	$129 MM	$12 MM
2015	$110 MM	$11 MM
2014	$140 MM	$12 MM
2012	$114 MM	$11 MM
2011	$105 MM	$11 MM
2010	$110 MM	$11 MM
2009	$102 MM	$10 MM
2008	$98 MM	$9 MM
2007	$88 MM	$9 MM
2006	$85 MM	$8 MM
2005	$95 MM	$8 MM
2004	$89 MM	$8 MM
2003	$76 MM	$8 MM
2002	$71 MM	$8 MM
2001	$80 MM	$7 MM
2000	$73 MM	$7 MM
1999	$68 MM	$6 MM
1998	$66 MM	$6 MM
1997	$65 MM	$5 MM
1996	$58 MM	$5 MM
1995	$58 MM	$5 MM

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Revenue / Student

$16,962

$22,430

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	$16,649	$17,333
2022	$14,455	$19,707
2021	$15,586	$17,764
2020	$14,455	$19,707
2019	$14,213	$17,662
2018	$12,512	$19,255
2017	$13,435	$17,801
2016	$12,838	$14,596
2015	$11,285	$11,118
2014	$12,427	$13,203
2012	$11,651	$11,701
2011	$12,026	$11,859
2010	$11,217	$11,118
2009	$10,903	$10,546
2008	$9,843	$11,298
2007	$9,708	$10,143
2006	$8,761	$9,054
2005	$8,899	$9,158
2004	$8,790	$8,999
2003	$7,636	$8,614
2002	$7,069	$8,976
2001	$6,643	$8,649
2000	$6,326	$8,451
1999	$6,002	$7,697
1998	$4,797	$5,971
1997	$4,594	$5,662
1995	$4,799	$5,677
1992	$3,661	$4,514

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Spending / Student

$20,754

$21,668

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Decatur School District 61	Illinois
2023	$20,371	$16,251
2022	$14,654	$19,097
2021	$19,070	$16,655
2020	$14,654	$19,097
2019	$13,338	$17,005
2018	$13,414	$18,215
2017	$13,185	$17,235
2016	$14,327	$14,516
2015	$12,023	$11,218
2014	$15,627	$12,904
2012	$12,621	$11,755
2011	$11,633	$11,220
2010	$11,951	$11,218
2009	$11,255	$10,416
2008	$10,167	$10,971
2007	$9,283	$9,827
2006	$8,694	$8,997
2005	$9,619	$9,234
2004	$8,791	$9,089
2003	$7,485	$9,395
2002	$6,796	$9,305
2001	$7,352	$8,562
2000	$6,573	$8,142
1999	$5,983	$7,325
1998	$5,034	$5,848
1997	$4,843	$5,503
1995	$4,696	$5,507
1992	$3,924	$4,672

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Best Decatur School District 61 Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Montessori Academy For Peace

(Math: 6% | Reading: 11%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

601 N Church St
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 362-3390

Gr: PK-8 | 639 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 53%

Rank: #22.

Robertson Charter School

Charter School

(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 11%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

2240 E Geddes Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 428-7072

Gr: PK-8 | 332 students Student-teacher ratio: 55:1 Minority enrollment: 98%

Rank: n/an/a

Pershing Early Learning Center

Add to Compare

300 E Eldorado St
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3301

Gr: PK | 375 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 76%

Rank: n/an/a

Southeast Learning Center

Add to Compare

620 E Garfield Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3310

Gr: PK-12

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 17 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 7,827 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
Minority Enrollment: 72%
: 72% (Btm 50% in IL)
: Bottom 50%
: 4% (Btm 50%)
: 6% (Btm 50%)
: 21% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education