Hope Academy

www.dps61.org

501 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Hope Academy, located at 955 N. Illinois St. in Decatur, Illinois, is an alternative educational institution primarily focused on providing a supportive environment for students who may have struggled in traditional school settings. As part of the Decatur Public Schools district, the academy is designed to meet the academic and behavioral needs of students who require a more individualized approach to learning, smaller class sizes, and intensive support systems to help them stay on track toward graduation.

The school emphasizes a structured yet nurturing atmosphere, aiming to foster personal growth, social-emotional development, and academic recovery. By utilizing specialized curricula and a dedicated staff, Hope Academy works to re-engage students who have faced challenges such as truancy, academic credit deficiencies, or disciplinary hurdles. Ultimately, the school serves as a vital resource within the Decatur community, helping students build the confidence and skills necessary to earn their diplomas and successfully transition into post-secondary life.

501

Total Students

36.0

Full-Time Teachers

13.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Hope Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	98
Hispanic	17
Black	320
Two or More	66

Black
320 (63.9%)
White
98 (19.6%)
Two or More
66 (13.2%)
Hispanic
17 (3.4%)

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)362-3280
Website:	http://www.dps61.org
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	501
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	36.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.9
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

Kindergarten 73

Grade 1 50

Grade 2 67

Grade 3 57

Grade 4 43

Grade 5 49

Grade 6 59

Grade 7 59

Grade 8 44