Top Rankings
Decatur SD 61 School District 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 2025 school year, there are 4 public high schools serving 1,978 students in Decatur SD 61 School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Illinois.
Public High Schools in Decatur SD 61 School District have an average math proficiency score of 6% (versus the Illinois public high school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 14% (versus the 29% statewide average).
Public High School in Decatur SD 61 School District have a Graduation Rate of 70%, which is less than the Illinois average of 87%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Macarthur High School, with 73% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Illinois or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 70% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Illinois public high school average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
17 Schools
1,032 Schools
# Students
7,827 Students
605,599 Students
# Teachers
424 Teachers
42,722 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Decatur SD 61 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 844 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.
Overall District Rank
#850 out of 852 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(22-23)4%
27%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
6%
30%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
50%
Graduation Rate
(22-23)72%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.65
0.69
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
6%
29%
% Black
51%
16%
% White
28%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
14%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,962 in this school district is less than the state median of $21,990. The school district revenue/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $20,754 is less than the state median of $21,244. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$133 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$162 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,962
$21,990
Spending / Student
$20,754
$21,244
Best Decatur SD 61 School District Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Garfield Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
300 Meadow Terrace Pl, Dianne
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3361
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3361
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Rank: #22.
Macarthur High School
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
300 E Eldorado St
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3152
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 362-3152
Grades: 9-12
| 1,042 students
Rank: #33.
Eisenhower High School
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1200 S 16th St
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3100
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 362-3100
Grades: 9-12
| 936 students
Rank: n/an/a
620 E Garfield Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3310
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 362-3310
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
Recent Articles
The Link Between Education and Incarceration: The NAACP Report
Education and the rate of incarceration have been linked in a recent NAACP report. Learn about the report and the troubling findings.
The Debate Over Mandatory AP Exams: Balancing Academic Rigor and Student Well-being
Some public schools are forcing students in AP courses to take the AP exam. Here's a look at both sides of the debate and the potential benefits in store for both students and high schools.
The 15 Biggest Failures of the American Public Education System
The world is in a constant state of change and those who fail to adjust fall behind. Unfortunately, the American public education system has not kept up with the times and is currently facing a number of serious problems. Keep reading to learn about the biggest failures affecting the modern U.S. public education system as well as some of the trends that could spark change.
