Home / Schools / Decatur school report card shows progress, persistent academic challenges Schools Decatur school report card shows progress, persistent academic challenges James T. Holloway James T. Holloway
Bureau Chief Β· Decatur, IL
A veteran journalist with over 20 years of experience, James holds a Master's in Journalism from Northwestern University. He previously served as the Editor-in-Chief at the Decatur Herald & Review, where he honed his skills in investigative reporting. James has a knack for connecting community issues with larger narratives, making him a pivotal figure at Decatur Current.
More from James β Bureau Chief Β· Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM Β· 4 min read
Aa
β Text size A A A
Typeface Sans Serif
Line spacing Tight Normal Loose
Theme Auto Light Dark
Focus mode Off Distraction-free
Aβ A+
Aa Sans Save PrintPrefer us on Google
Learn More
Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Copy article link
Save
DECATUR β Report card time can make people anxious, even a school board.
kAm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]5ADe`]@C8^@FC\5:DEC:4E^>66E\E96\3@2C5^3@2C5\>66E:?8\52E6D\5@4F>6?EDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?66E:?8 %F6D52J]k^Am
kAmβ%9:D :D 2 4@>A=6E6 A:4EFC6 @7 DEF56?E 2?5 D49@@= A6C7@C>2?46[ 2?5 2=D@ AC@G:56D 5:C64E:@? E@ 6249 D49@@=[ 32D65 @? E96 A6C7@C>2?46 AC@7:=6[β D2:5 }:4@=6 r@FC:\|2=D@?[ 2DD:DE2?E DFA6C:?E6?56?E @7 E6249:?8 2?5 =62C?:?8] βxE 8:G6D FD 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ C62==J 7@4FD :? 2?5 :>AC@G6 H96C6 :E :D ?66565]βk^Am
People are also readingβ¦
Dog sex video leads to Facebook warrants
IHSA Football Playoffs: Second-round scores from around the state
Decatur owner accused of cruel and neglectful treatment of two dogs
Milo the Yorkie gets choked but stays friendly, cops report
Meet the man behind the viral 'Grazing Guse' account in Central Illinois
Convicted Decatur killer's appeal fails
Decatur's Clubhouse at Scovill Acres gains major support from ADM
Cops probe attempted murder
8 years for accomplice in brutal Decatur murder case
These bands have been pursued β unsuccessfully, so far β to play the Devon
Decatur-area football playoffs second round roundup: Monticello, Meridian move on
Mt. Zion football knocked out in second round by top-seeded Centralia
Decatur man accused of sex crime and battery back in court
These 29 Decatur properties have been approved for demolition by the city
Search the latest Macon County real estate transfers
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6A@CE 42C5 C6DF=ED[ E96 8C25F2E:@? C2E6 :?4C62D65 eT 7C@> fhT E@ gdT] %62496C C6E6?E:@? C2E6 C@D6 7C@> gcT E@ geT] p?5 49C@?:4 23D6?E66:D> 5C@AA65 3J E9C66 A@:?ED 7C@> ceT E@ cbT] w@H6G6C[ s642EFC D49@@=D 92G6 @?6 @7 E96 9:896DE 23D6?E66:D> C2E6D :? E96 DE2E6[ r@FC:\|2=D@? A@:?E65 @FE] β(6βC6 C62==J 7@4FD:?8 @? E92E E9:D J62C[β D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$EF56?E AC@7:4:6?4J β 2E @C 23@G6 8C256 =6G6= β :D E96 3:886DE 4@?46C?] β(6 2C6 72C[ 72C 36=@H E96 DE2E6 2G6C286[β r@FC:\|2=D@? D2:5] β%9:D :D 2? 2C62 @7 7@4FD 7@C FD]βk^Am
kAm%96 ?F>36CD 2C6 >@G:?8 :? E96 C:89E 5:C64E:@?[ 3FE E96J 92G6 2 =@?8 H2J E@ 8@[ r@FC:\|2=D@? D2:5] t249 D49@@= :D 7@4FD65 @? :?4C62D:?8 C625:?8 2?5 >2E9 AC@7:4:6?4J 3J dT[ C2:D:?8 E96 @G6C2== 2EE6?52?46 C2E6 3J b]dT[ 2?5 C65F4:?8 49C@?:4 23D6?E66:D> 3J 2?@E96C dT]k^Am
kAm#@25>2A a_b_[ E96 5:DEC:4EVD DEC2E68:4 A=2? 7@C E96 4@>:?8 J62CD[ :D 36:?8 56G6=@A65 H:E9 E96D6 :>AC@G6>6?ED :? >:?5] xE :D 3C@<6? :?E@ EH@ A2CED β @?6 7@4FD65 @? 24256>:4 249:6G6>6?E 2?5 AC@8C2>D[ @?6 7@4FD65 @? E96 5:DEC:4EVD 3F:=5:?8D 2?5 E96 >@DE 677:4:6?E FD6 @7 DA246]k^Am
kAmxE :?4=F56D 7:G6 8@2=Di :>AC@G:?8 DEF56?E 249:6G6>6?E[ 4C62E:?8 67764E:G6 =62C?:?8 6?G:C@?>6?ED[ AC@>@E:?8 2 A@D:E:G6 H@C:=J 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 6?8286>6?E[ 2?5 6?DFC:?8 7:D42= DE6H2C5D9:A]k^Am
kAmpD 7@C E96 3F:=5:?8 4@>A@?6?E[ 5:DEC:4E @77:4:2=D C646?E=J C6=62D6 E9C66 D46?2C:@D F?56C 4@?D:56C2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%H@ @7 E96 E9C66 D46?2C:@D :?4=F56 A=2?D 7@C @?6 9:89 D49@@= 42>AFD] $FA6C:?E6?56?E }:4@=6 }2D9 |@@5J C6:E6C2E65 5FC:?8 2 ?6HD 4@?76C6?46 F?G6:=:?8 E96 D46?2C:@D E92E ?@ A=2? 92D 366? 7:C>=J D6E 2?5 :D DF3;64E E@ 492?86] p 7:?2= AC@A@D2= H:== 36 D92C65 H:E9 E96 3@2C5 2E :ED u63] h >66E:?8 H:E9 E96 3@2C5 >6>36CD D4965F=65 E@ G@E6 @? :E =2E6C E92E >@?E9]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]5ADe`]@C8^@FC\5:DEC:4E^C@25>2Aa_b_Q E2C86ElQ03=2?2A a_b_k^2m 4@?E:?F6D E@ 36 2 4@?46C? 7@C 72>:=:6D 2?5 E62496CD[ H:E9 D6G6C2= >6>36CD @7 E96 AF3=:4 255C6DD:?8 E96 D49@@= 3@2C5 5FC:?8 %F6D52JβD >66E:?8] ~G6C2==[ E96 4@?46C?D :?4=F565 E96 H6=72C6 @7 E96 DEF56?EDβ 65F42E:@?]k^Am
kAmβ$BF2C6 7@@E286 :D =2DE :? 2== @7 E9@D6 5:D4FDD:@?D[β D2:5 3@2C5 >6>36C z6G:? w2=6]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ 7:?2?4:2= D2G:?8D H:== 36 4@?D:56C65[ 96 D2:5] βqFE E96 3@EE@> =:?6 :D E9:Dj ?@ 564:D:@?D 92G6 366? >256[β 96 25565] β(6VC6 8@:?8 E@ ECJ 2?5 7:89E E@ 7:?5 2 H2J E@ >2<6 6G6CJE9:?8 :?4C65:3=J 4@??64E65 E@ @FC DEF56?ED[ @FC G2=F23=6 DEF56?ED[ 3642FD6 E96JVC6 E96 4@?DE:EF6?ED E92E C62==J >2EE6C]βk^Am
Richland unveils building plans as Decatur education leaders outline changes
kAm%96 #@25>2A a_b_ 4@>>:EE66 92D D4965F=65 4@>>F?:EJ 7@CF>D 7@C s64] f 2?5 y2?] ad E@ 8:G6 DE2<69@=56CD 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ D92C6 E96:C 4@?46C?D 2?5 DF886DE:@?D] %96 4@>>:EE66 92D 8@EE6? D@>6 7665324<]k^Am
kAmβ(6 4@?E:?F6 E@ C67:?6[ E2<6 7665324<[ 2?5 >@G6 E96 32== 7@CH2C5 H96? :E 4@>6D E@ ECJ:?8 E@ 4@>6 FA H:E9 H92E H:== 36 6G6?EF2==J E96 36DE C64@>>6?52E:@?D E92E H6 42? >2<6 8:G6? 2== E96 G2C:23=6D E92E H6βC6 =@@<:?8 2E[β 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAms:D4FDD:@?D H:== 4@?E:?F6 5FC:?8 E96 4@>>:EE66βD }@G] `a >66E:?8[ |2C:?@ D2:5]k^Am
kAmβ&?E:= J@F 86E 7FCE96C 5@H? E96 C@25 :? E96D6 D46?2C:@D[ J@F >2J DA6?5 2 =@E @7 E:>6 E2=<:?8 23@FE D@>6E9:?8 :? 2 D46?2C:@ E92E ?6G6C 24EF2==J >2<6D :ED H2J 6G6? E@ E96 ?6IE >66E:?8[β |2C:?@ D2:5] βtG6CJ >66E:?8 H:== 364@>6 >@C6 2?5 >@C6 56E2:=65 2C@F?5 E96D6 D46?2C:@D]βk^Am
kAmx?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 FA52E6D H:== 36 2G2:=23=6 @? E96 #@25>2A k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]5ADe`]@C8^@FC\5:DEC:4E^C@25>2Aa_b_Q E2C86ElQ03=2?
Up next Decatur schools report higher graduation rate, lower absenteeism in 2026 report card Schools Β· 1 min read