The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Muffley Elem School
Muffley Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Decatur, a mid-sized central Illinois city known for agricultural commodity processing and industrial manufacturing. The school sits on Country Club Road and is part of Decatur School District 61.
The academic data shows consistent challenge across reading and mathematics. In the most recent state testing, proficiency rates in both subjects ranged from low single digits to low teens across grades three through six. In grade three, about one in seven students met proficiency in both math and reading. By grade four, math proficiency dropped to a very small share of students tested. Grade five math proficiency was near zero, while reading improved somewhat in grade six, where roughly one in four students demonstrated proficiency. Science testing in grade five showed similar low proficiency. These results are well below the typical range for districts countywide; among Macon County's districts, Muffley ranks in the bottom quartile on overall proficiency across tested grades and subjects. A parent weighing this school should understand that remediation, intervention, and substantial instructional support are daily realities for most learners here.
The school enrolls about four hundred students spread fairly evenly across its grade bands, with modest variation in class sizes from year to year. The student body is mixed by race and ethnicity: roughly half of students identify as Black, about one-third as white, a small share as Hispanic, and smaller numbers in other groups. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the prevalence of economic need and what support services are available.
The district has implemented two major changes that shape the daily experience. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, all students across all grades are required to lock phones, ear buds, smart watches, and tablets in lockers during the entire school day with no lunch-time exceptions. This is a comprehensive device ban that alters classroom dynamics and student interaction patterns throughout the day. Additionally, the district launched a strategic planning and master facilities plan called Roadmap2030 beginning in October 2024. This multi-year initiative examines building structural integrity and aligns facility use with future enrollment projections and financial sustainability. The plan's recommendations will shape which buildings remain open, how programs are organized, and where capital dollars flow, making it a consequential initiative for families considering stability and long-term positioning within the district.
Decatur itself is gradually declining in population but pursuing downtown revitalization through the 2023-2025 City Strategic Plan and major housing projects like the Village at Legacy, which opened in phases during 2024-2025. The city anchors itself around Lake Decatur and its parks, downtown historic districts, and civic institutions including Millikin University and Richland Community College. Major employers include Archer Daniels Midland, Caterpillar, and two hospitals, with emerging growth in biomanufacturing and precision fermentation through the iFAB Tech Hub. Housing values are modest relative to national benchmarks, and rental rates are below national averages, making the area affordable for working families.
Parents choosing Muffley should plan for intensive academic support and understand the school's current performance context. The low proficiency results and below-average positioning among county peers indicate that student learning requires active engagement with remedial and intervention programs. This is a school where families benefit from proactive communication with teachers and realistic expectations about where students are testing relative to grade-level standards.
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