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Decatur SD 61

Illinois · Public School District
17
Schools
7,974
Students
$18,855
Per-Pupil Spend
+31% nat'l
74.9%
Free Lunch Rate
+23pp vs nat'l
—
Graduation Rate
District Overview

Decatur SD 61 is a public school district in Illinois serving 7,974 students across 17 schools. It includes 11 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high schools, among them 1 charter school. Per-pupil spending of $18,855 is above average for a US public school district. 75% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are moderate, with a district median of 50/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (17)
Middle School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Stephen Decatur Middle School07–08459
High Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Eisenhower High School09–12934
MacArthur High School09–121,105
Other Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Garfield ElementaryKG–120
Garfield Learning AcademyKG–120
Pershing Early Learning CenterPK–PK389
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$18,855+31% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
43%
35%
State
43.3%
Local (property tax)
35.3%
Federal
21.4%

Funding is shared between state (43%) and local sources (35%), with notable federal support (21%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
17
Schools
7,974
Students
75%
Free Lunch
$19K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate—
Opportunity Score50/100
StateIllinois →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $18,855 per pupil — 31% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 17 schools including 1 charter school, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
21% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Decatur SD 61?
Decatur SD 61 has 17 public schools, serving a total of 7,974 students.
How much does Decatur SD 61 spend per student?
Decatur SD 61 spends $18,855 per pupil — 31% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Decatur SD 61?
75% of students in Decatur SD 61 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Decatur SD 61?
Yes — 1 of the 17 schools in Decatur SD 61 is a charter school.
What grade levels does Decatur SD 61 serve?
Decatur SD 61 serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Decatur SD 61?
The median opportunity score across schools in Decatur SD 61 is 50/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.