Stephen Decatur Middle School

www.dps61.org

459 Students

Middle School 7th - 8th

School Overview

Stephen Decatur Middle School, located at 1 Educational Park in Decatur, Illinois, serves as a key component of the Decatur Public School District 61. Situated within a central educational campus, the school is designed to support students during their critical middle school transition years, focusing on fostering both academic growth and social-emotional development. The institution provides a comprehensive curriculum that aims to prepare students for the rigors of high school while encouraging participation in extracurricular activities that promote school spirit and community engagement.

The school is known for its commitment to creating an inclusive learning environment that addresses the diverse needs of its student body. By utilizing a blend of traditional instruction and modern educational resources, Stephen Decatur Middle School strives to cultivate critical thinking and collaborative skills. As part of the broader Decatur educational community, the school works closely with families and local stakeholders to ensure that students have access to the support systems necessary for success in their middle years and beyond.

459

Total Students

29.0

Full-Time Teachers

15.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Stephen Decatur Middle School
Demographic	Student Count
White	172
Hispanic	17
Black	200
Two or More	66
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	2

Black
200 (43.6 %)
White
172 (37.5 %)
Two or More
66 (14.4 %)
Hispanic
17 (3.7 %)
American Indian
2 (0.4 %)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.4 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Decatur SD 61
Phone:	(217)362-3251
Website:	http://www.dps61.org
Grade Range:	7th - 8th
Total Students:	459
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	29.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.8
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

Grade 7 242

Grade 8 216

Grade 9 1