Decatur Sd 61 School District
School District · Decatur, Illinois
Avg Rating
3.7
out of 10
Schools
15
11 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
7,827
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Avg Rating
3.7
out of 10
Schools
15
11 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
7,827
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
How this district compares
Illinois rank
#634 of 637
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-2.7
below Illinois avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,611
$1,079 vs Illinois median
District size
7,827 students
Much larger than Illinois median
The short answer
Decatur Sd 61 ranks #634 of 637 Illinois districts by overall school rating. Decatur Sd 61's schools with real test data average 3.7/10 across 14 schools. Its top-rated schools are Montessori Academy for Peace (5.3/10), Robertson Charter School (5.2/10), and American Dreamer Stem Academy (4.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 5.2/10 despite 77% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Decatur Sd 61 schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +4.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Decatur Sd 61 schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Decatur Sd 61
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (14 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montessori Academy for Peace | 5.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Robertson Charter School | 5.2 / 10 |
| 3 | American Dreamer Stem Academy | 4.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Michael E Baum Elem School | 4.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Dennis Lab School | 3.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Muffley Elem School | 3.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Johns Hill Magnet School | 3.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Franklin Grove Elem School | 3.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Macarthur High School | 3.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Stephen Decatur Middle School | 3.2 / 10 |
See all 15 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Decatur Sd 61
Decatur Sd 61 is a Decatur, Illinois school district serving 15 schools.The district educates 7,827 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19.1:1. District-level spending was $15,611 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 3.7/10, Decatur Sd 61 has schools with varying levels of academic achievement.
The highest-rated school in the district is Montessori Academy for Peace, which has a composite score of 5.3/10.
In standardized testing, Decatur Sd 61 students show an average math proficiency of 13.4% and ELA proficiency of 18.1%.
The district includes 11 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Decatur Sd 61, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Decatur Sd 61 with test data.
Schools in Decatur Sd 61
15 schoolsElementary Schools11
Middle Schools1
High Schools2
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- Illinois
- City
- Decatur
- Total Enrollment
- 7,827
- Teachers (FTE)
- 410
- District spending per student
- $15,611NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 27.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Decatur Sd 61?
Decatur Sd 61 has 15 schools in total — 11 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Decatur Sd 61?
The average composite rating for Decatur Sd 61 is 3.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Decatur Sd 61?
Decatur Sd 61's district-level spending was $15,611 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Decatur Sd 61?
The average student-teacher ratio in Decatur Sd 61 is 19.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in Decatur Sd 61?
Montessori Academy for Peace is the highest-rated school in Decatur Sd 61 with a composite score of 5.3/10.
What are the test scores in Decatur Sd 61?
Across schools in Decatur Sd 61 with test data, the average math proficiency is 13.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 18.1%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Decatur Sd 61 compare to other districts in Illinois?
Decatur Sd 61 has an average school rating of 3.7/10 across 15 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Illinois by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 3.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 13.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 18.1%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in IL
Compare Decatur Sd 61 with neighboring districts in the state.
- Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 (643)
- Sd U-46 (56)
- Rockford Sd 205 (45)
- Springfield Sd 186 (35)
- Indian Prairie Cusd 204 (34)
- Peoria Sd 150 (32)
- Plainfield Sd 202 (31)
- Cusd 300 (29)
- Schaumburg Ccsd 54 (28)
- Mclean County USD 5 (26)
- Cusd 308 (22)
- Joliet Psd 86 (22)
- Naperville Cusd 203 (22)
- Waukegan Cusd 60 (22)
- Aurora East USD 131 (20)
- Champaign Cusd 4 (20)
- Cusd 200 (20)
- Palatine Ccsd 15 (20)
- Valley View Cusd 365u (20)
- St Charles Cusd 303 (18)
- Aurora West USD 129 (17)
- Evanston Ccsd 65 (17)
- Cicero Sd 99 (15)
- Comm Cons Sd 59 (15)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Illinois Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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