Dennis Lab School

www.dps61.org

579 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Dennis Elementary School, located at 1499 W. Main St. in Decatur, Illinois, is a public school serving students in the Decatur Public School District 61. The school is well-known in the community for its specialized focus on the arts. As a dedicated Fine Arts Magnet School, Dennis Elementary integrates creative expression into its curriculum, encouraging students to develop their talents in areas such as music, visual arts, and performance alongside their core academic studies.

The school’s environment is designed to foster both academic achievement and personal growth by utilizing the arts as a vehicle for engagement. By emphasizing a rigorous curriculum paired with creative opportunities, Dennis Elementary aims to provide a well-rounded educational experience that prepares students for success in middle school and beyond. It remains a notable choice for families in the Decatur area who are seeking an educational setting that prioritizes innovation and artistic enrichment.

579

Total Students

35.0

Full-Time Teachers

16.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Dennis Lab School
Demographic	Student Count
White	164
Hispanic	43
Black	289
Asian	2
Two or More	81

Black
289 (49.9%)
White
164 (28.3%)
Two or More
81 (14.0%)
Hispanic
43 (7.4%)
Asian
2 (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:	Decatur SD 61
Phone:	(217)362-3511
Website:	http://www.dps61.org
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	579
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	35.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.5
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 74

Grade 1 70

Grade 2 74

Grade 3 54

Grade 4 57

Grade 5 52

Grade 6 70

Grade 7 65

Grade 8 63