Enrollment
505
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Decatur, IL
Parsons Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Parsons Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 171185001432
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Parsons Elementary School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Illinois schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #2 of 8
- elementary schools in Decatur · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.9:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 505
- students enrolled
Parsons Elementary School has class sizes larger than 80% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Parsons Elementary School ranks #2 of 8 elementary schools in Decatur, IL.
School address
District: Decatur Sd 61 · Illinois
NCES ID 171185001432 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.9:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
+14% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Parsons Elementary School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Parsons Elementary School
Parsons Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Decatur, Illinois, enrolling 505 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.9:1 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
Enrollment of 505 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 93% of the 3,845 Illinois schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Its student body is led by African American (49%) and White (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 60.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Decatur's elementary schools, it stands alongside Johns Hill Magnet School (627 students): Parsons Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.9:1 vs 16.9:1).
Decatur Sd 61 also operates Macarthur High School (1,059 students) and Eisenhower High School (909 students) alongside Parsons Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Parsons Elementary School compares
Parsons Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.9:1 | ▲ 14% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 505 | top 30% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.9:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
505
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
15.9:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 80% in Illinois - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
60.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$16,005
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $17,042
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 53 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 505 Top 30% in Illinois - larger than 70% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 29.0
Students per teacher 15.9:1 +14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 171185001432
Student demographics
African American 49.1%
White 26.5%
Two or More 17.2%
Hispanic or Latino 5.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 49.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.6, Parsons Elementary School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 60.2%
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 53
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Decatur Sd 61, which includes Parsons Elementary School.
$16,005
Per student
-6%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
-4%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.3%
State 43.3%
Federal 21.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Parsons Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macarthur High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eisenhower High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Johns Hill Magnet School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Montessori Academy for Peace | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dennis Lab School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Parsons Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,059
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 909
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 627
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 586
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 579
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
Similar elementary schools in Decatur
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Johns Hill Magnet School
Standard public school
627 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Hope Academy
Standard public school
501 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Franklin Grove Elem School
Standard public school
461 students 25.4:1 students per teacher
American Dreamer Stem Academy
Standard public school
423 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
Muffley Elem School
Standard public school
386 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
South Shores Elem School
Standard public school
335 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Parsons Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Parsons Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Decatur Sd 61's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Parsons Elementary School
How many students attend Parsons Elementary School?
Parsons Elementary School has 505 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Decatur, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Parsons Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Parsons Elementary School is 15.9:1, which is 14% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Parsons Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Parsons Elementary School is African American at 49.1% of enrollment, in Decatur, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Parsons Elementary School?
Parsons Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Parsons Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Decatur?
By Resource Investment Index, Parsons Elementary School ranks #2 of 8 elementary schools in Decatur, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Decatur on the city page.
Is Parsons Elementary School a good school?
Parsons Elementary School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Illinois schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Decatur Sd 61?
Besides Parsons Elementary School, Decatur Sd 61 also operates Macarthur High School (1,059 students), Eisenhower High School (909 students), and Johns Hill Magnet School (627 students). See the Decatur Sd 61 district page for the complete list.