Dennis Lab School

As a well-populated elementary campus in Decatur, Illinois, Dennis Lab School hosts 579 students from grades K through 8, overseen by Decatur SD 61. That puts it 52% above the typical public school in Illinois, which averages around 381 students.

Across the 15 schools in Decatur SD 61 (7,840 students total), Dennis Lab School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

On the student-mix side, Dennis Lab School reports that 50% of students identify as Black, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. The remainder is composed of 28% White, 14% multiracial, 7% Hispanic. That is considerably more Black than the county at large, where the share is closer to 16%.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Dennis Lab School lists 35 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 16.5:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.9:1, putting Dennis Lab School higher than the state norm the norm. Around 85% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. Set against Macon County (around 61%), the school's rate is noticeably above typical.

With demographic context factored in, Dennis Lab School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 22.6%; this one delivers 9.9%.

Zooming out to the county, census data for Macon County shows the typical household earns roughly $62,666 per year, 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Macon County runs 43 public schools (combined enrollment of about 14,702 students), of which Dennis Lab School is one.

South Shores Elem School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.5 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Dennis Lab School. On composite proficiency, Dennis Lab School comes 7th of 9 in the immediate cluster, below the nearby-schools average of 12.1%.

The school occupies a city-core site.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Dennis Lab School has edged up 24%, going from 466 students in 2018 to 579 in 2025. The White share of enrollment ticked down from 62% to 28% over that span. The student-to-teacher ratio fell from 17.9:1 in 2018 to 16.5:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.