Needs Improvement
#3810 of 3,813 schools in IL
Stephen Decatur Middle School
Middle School · Decatur Sd 61 · Decatur, IL
A Decatur Sd 61 middle school where students score 17 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1 Educational Park, Decatur, IL 62526
- Math 1% proficient (2021)
- Reading 3% proficient (2022)
- 20.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Stephen Decatur Middle School score 2% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 19%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 69 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 3% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 25% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 24% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 27 test records from IL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
66.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Stephen Decatur Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 25Car-Dependent
- Bike 48Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,518/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Decatur), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$48,222
Median home value
$91,500
Median rent
$785/mo
College educated
20%
Homeownership
58.4%
Poverty rate
18.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 62526; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lutheran School AssociationPrivate · tuition | 6.7 | PK–12 | 0.8 mi | 322 | Compare → |
| Decatur Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.1 | K–12 | 3.4 mi | 159 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Decatur Sd 61
- Schools in district
- 16
- Rank in district
- #13 of 15
- District spending per student
- $15,611NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 27.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Stephen Decatur Middle School is listed in Decatur SD 61; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Stephen Decatur Middle School
Stephen Decatur Middle School is a public middle school in Decatur, IL, part of Decatur Sd 61, serving approximately 467 students in grades 7th-8th with a 20.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 1.9 out of 10 and ranks #3,810 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Stephen Decatur Middle School
What grades does Stephen Decatur Middle School serve?
Stephen Decatur Middle School serves students in grades 7th through 8th.
How many students attend Stephen Decatur Middle School?
Stephen Decatur Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 467 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Stephen Decatur Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Stephen Decatur Middle School is 20.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Stephen Decatur Middle School rank in IL?
Stephen Decatur Middle School ranks #3,810 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Stephen Decatur Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Stephen Decatur Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 1.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Stephen Decatur Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Stephen Decatur Middle School has 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Stephen Decatur Middle School a charter school?
No, Stephen Decatur Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Stephen Decatur Middle School a Title I school?
No, Stephen Decatur Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Stephen Decatur Middle School?
66.4% of students at Stephen Decatur Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 7th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 467
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Macon County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 63.4%
- Phone
- (217) 362-3251
- Area population (ZIP 62526)
- 31,191
- Area average commute
- 17.5 min
- Area median age
- 41.5
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 62526; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2021, multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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