Summary:
The Decatur, Illinois school district consists of 15 schools, including 12 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools. The district faces significant challenges, with wide disparities in academic performance and socioeconomic factors playing a major role. While some schools, such as Montessori Academy for Peace and Robertson Charter School, are outperforming the district average, the Decatur School District 61 as a whole ranks 816th out of 823 districts in Illinois and receives a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.
The data reveals stark disparities in academic performance between the highest-performing and lowest-performing schools. For example, Montessori Academy for Peace has significantly higher test scores than the district and state averages, while Hope Academy has 0% proficiency rates in many subjects. There also appears to be a strong correlation between the socioeconomic status of a school's student population (as measured by free/reduced lunch rates) and its academic performance, with the schools with the highest poverty rates tending to have the lowest test scores and highest chronic absenteeism.
Despite the overall challenges facing the district, there are a few potential bright spots, such as Montessori Academy for Peace and Robertson Charter School, which seem to be outperforming the district average. Further investigation into the practices and strategies of these schools could provide valuable insights for improving educational outcomes for all students in the Decatur School District 61.
Thank you for your feedback!