Total enrollment
7,840
-1,218 (-13%) vs SY 2017-18
24 schools in Decatur
Illinois · Public K-12
Looking for a public school in Decatur? The city has 24 K-12 options totaling roughly 7,840 students (12 elementary, 1 middle, and 6 high).
7-year change in Decatur
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
15
-11 (-42%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
26%
was 38%
% Hispanic
7%
was 4%
% Black
51%
was 45%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
69,815
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Students
7,840
public K-12 · NCES
Schools
24
public K-12
| Name | Level | Grades | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Dreamer STEM Academy | Elementary | KG-08 | 423 |
| Decatur Pub. Schs. Alt. Education | Combined | KG-12 | 0 |
| Dennis Lab School | Elementary | KG-08 | 579 |
| Eisenhower High School | High | 09-12 | 909 |
| Franklin Grove Elem School | Elementary | KG-06 | 461 |
| Futures Unlimited | High | 09-12 | 0 |
| Garfield Elementary | Combined | M-M | · |
| Heartland Technical Academy | High | 11-12 | 0 |
| Hope Academy | Elementary | KG-08 | 501 |
| Johns Hill Magnet School | Elementary | KG-08 | 627 |
| MacArthur High School | High | 09-12 | 1,059 |
| Macon/Piatt ROE 39 ALOP | Combined | 04-12 | 0 |
| Michael E Baum Elem School | Elementary | KG-06 | 313 |
| Milligan Academy Rssp | High | 06-11 | 0 |
| Montessori Academy for Peace | Elementary | PK-08 | 586 |
| Muffley Elem School | Elementary | KG-06 | 386 |
| Option Three | High | 06-12 | 0 |
| Parsons Elementary School | Elementary | KG-06 | 505 |
| Pershing Early Learning Center | Elementary | PK-PK | 416 |
| Robertson Charter School | Elementary | PK-08 | 327 |
| Social-Emotional Learning Academy | Combined | KG-12 | 0 |
| South Shores Elem School | Elementary | KG-06 | 335 |
| St Marys Adolescent Ed Program | Combined | M-M | · |
| Stephen Decatur Middle School | Middle | 07-08 | 413 |
About Decatur
Public education in Decatur, Illinois runs across 24 schools that serves roughly 7,840 students. By footprint, Decatur sits in the medium-population bracket.
On the school-mix side, the city spans 12 elementary, 1 middle, 6 high, and 5 other.
Average school size in Decatur is around 327 students, 32% noticeably below the Illinois average of about 480.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Decatur has declined 13% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 9,058 students to 7,840. Over that span, Decatur lost 11 schools, going from 26 to 15. The White share of public-school enrollment declined from 38% to 26%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Decatur discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.