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Decatur SD 61 School District

Item: Decatur SD 61 School District
Rating: 1
Author: Public School Review

101 W Cerro Gordo St
Decatur, IL 62523-1001

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (217) 362-3010

www.dps61.org

Top Rankings

Decatur SD 61 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Illinois for:

Overview

This School District

This State (IL)

# Schools

16 Schools

4,394 Schools

# Students

7,840 Students

1,842,872 Students

# Teachers

457 Teachers

137,935 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

17:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Decatur SD 61 School District	Illinois
Pre-K	545	84
Kind	653	124
1	608	131
2	635	134
3	613	140
4	575	138
5	592	138
6	575	138
7	560	140
8	516	143
9	531	152
10	491	154
11	477	151
12	469	155

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District Rank

Decatur SD 61 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 861 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 SD 61 School District
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 SD 61 School District	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 SD 61 School District	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 SD 61 School District	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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Students by Ethnicity:

0.65

0.69

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Decatur SD 61 School District	Illinois
2024	0.64	0.70
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
1990	0.44	0.51
1989	0.44	0.51
1988	0.44	0.50

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% American Indian

n/a

% Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2024)
Year	Decatur SD 61 School District	Illinois
2024	1%	6%
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%

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% Hispanic

29%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2000-2024)
Year	Decatur SD 61 School District	Illinois
2024	5%	28%
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%

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% Black

51%

16%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)
Year	Decatur SD 61 School District	Illinois
2024	50%	16%
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%
1990	32%	22%
1989	30%	22%
1988	31%	22%

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% White

26%

45%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)
Year	Decatur SD 61 School District	Illinois
2024	30%	45%
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%
1990	68%	66%
1989	69%	66%
1988	69%	67%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

15%

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2012-2024)
Year	Decatur SD 61 School District	Illinois
2024	14%	4%
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%
2012	9%	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,934 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,455. The school district revenue/student has grown by 17% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $20,719 is less than the state median of $21,692. 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 SD 61 School District	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 SD 61 School District	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

$16,934

$22,455

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Decatur SD 61 School District	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

$20,719

$21,692

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Decatur SD 61 School District	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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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Decatur SD 61 School District?

Decatur SD 61 School District manages 16 public schools serving 7,840 students.

What is the rank of Decatur SD 61 School District?

Decatur SD 61 School District is ranked #857 out of 861 school districts in Illinois (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Illinois school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)

What is the racial composition of students in Decatur SD 61 School District?

51% of Decatur SD 61 School District students are Black, 26% of students are White, 15% of students are Two or more races, 7% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are Asian.

What is the student/teacher ratio of Decatur SD 61 School District?

Decatur SD 61 School District has a student/teacher ratio of 17:1, which is higher than the Illinois state average of 14:1.

What is Decatur SD 61 School District's spending/student ratio?

The school district's spending/student of $20,719 is less than the state median of $21,692. The school district spending/student has grown by 41% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 16 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 7,840 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
Minority Enrollment: 74%
: 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