Pershing Early Learning Center

Decatur SD 61
2912 N University Ave
Decatur, IL 62526
389 Students
Pre Kindergarten Pre-K - Pre-K
School Overview
Pershing Early Learning Center, located at 2912 N. University in Decatur, Illinois, serves as a specialized educational facility dedicated to the foundational development of the district’s youngest students. As part of the Decatur Public Schools system, the center focuses exclusively on early childhood education, typically catering to preschool and pre-kindergarten children. The school is designed to foster early social, emotional, and cognitive growth, providing a structured yet nurturing environment that prepares students for the transition into elementary school.

The center emphasizes the importance of play-based learning and early literacy and numeracy, recognizing these as critical building blocks for long-term academic success. By providing a targeted curriculum tailored to the developmental needs of children ages three to five, Pershing Early Learning Center aims to bridge early educational gaps and instill a love for learning in a supportive community setting. Through its specialized focus, the school plays a vital role in Decatur’s efforts to ensure that all children in the district start their formal education on an equal and confident footing.
389
Total Students
10.8
Full-Time Teachers
35.9
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
Free/Reduced Lunch
Student Demographics
  • Black
    194 (49.9 %)
  • White
    96 (24.7 %)
  • Two or More
    67 (17.2 %)
  • Hispanic
    28 (7.2 %)
  • Asian
    3 (0.8 %)
  • American Indian
    1 (0.3 %)
School Location
School Details
Status: Open
School Level: Pre Kindergarten
School Type: Regular School
Charter Status:* Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction: No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status: No
District: Decatur SD 61
Phone: (217)362-3301
Website: http://www.dps61.org
Grade Range: Pre-K - Pre-K
Total Students: 389
Full-Time Teachers (FTE): 10.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 35.9
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
Pre-Kindergarten 389
Gender Ratio