Decatur Classical Elem School

www.cps.edu

323 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Decatur Classical Elementary School, located in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago, is a highly regarded selective-enrollment school serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Unlike typical neighborhood schools, Decatur utilizes a rigorous, accelerated curriculum designed specifically for students identified as gifted. The school is well-known for its emphasis on critical thinking, independent inquiry, and a fast-paced learning environment that pushes students to excel beyond traditional grade-level expectations.

The school maintains a strong reputation for academic excellence, consistently ranking among the top-performing schools in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) district. Beyond its core academics, Decatur fosters a tight-knit, inclusive community where families are deeply involved in the school's culture. By focusing on a "classical" approach—which often includes a heavy emphasis on humanities, logic, and comprehensive analytical skills—Decatur provides a distinct educational pathway for high-achieving students within the city of Chicago.

323

Total Students

21.0

Full-Time Teachers

15.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Decatur Classical Elem School
Demographic	Student Count
White	146
Hispanic	45
Black	14
Asian	89
Two or More	27
American Indian	1

White
146 (45.3 %)
Asian
89 (27.6 %)
Hispanic
45 (14.0 %)
Two or More
27 (8.4 %)
Black
14 (4.3 %)
American Indian
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	City of Chicago SD 299
Phone:	(773)534-2201
Website:	http://www.cps.edu
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	323
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	21.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 28

Grade 1 55

Grade 2 28

Grade 3 27

Grade 4 58

Grade 5 28

Grade 6 30

Grade 7 41

Grade 8 28