Summary:
Decatur School District 61 has only one middle school, Stephen Decatur Middle School, which serves students in grades 6-8. The school is performing significantly below state averages across all subject areas and grade levels, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math below 10% in most cases, compared to state averages around 40-50%. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 53.8% is more than double the state average, which likely contributes to the low academic performance.
Despite per-student spending of nearly $20,000, Stephen Decatur Middle School is ranked 1356 out of 1363 Illinois middle schools for the 2023-2024 school year, with a 0 out of 5 star rating from SchoolDigger. The school serves a high-need student population, with over 83% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, which may require additional resources and support to improve outcomes.
Overall, the data paints a concerning picture of Stephen Decatur Middle School's performance. Addressing the school's challenges, including low test scores, high chronic absenteeism, and serving a high-need student population, will likely require a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to improve educational outcomes for the students in Decatur School District 61.
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