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SterlingIllinois1Photo: KWayne1 · CC BY-SA 4.0
B−
Schools in Sterling · Sterling Community Unit District 5

Sterling’s public schools score below 53% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation

Reading proficiency in Sterling’s districts is 18%, below the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the public school district serving Sterling, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Illinois, not nationally.

#473of 768 Illinois townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Illinois state tests taken in spring 2021, when nearly all of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
18%
▼ 12 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
18%
▼ 8 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
90%
▲ 2 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.5K
▼ 28% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.1
IL 13.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
3,253 students on the public path
In brief

Sterling’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1164 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sterling’s, its schools beat 60%, higher than their 47% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2021, 18% of tested students were proficient in reading and 18% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,512 per student, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then two elementary, one middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Sterling’s grade

C Test scoresB Graduation

B−: better than 47% of Illinois school districts, #473 of 768 Illinois towns. Graduation is above the Illinois average; test scores are below it.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 47%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (1164)Better than 60%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,514 test results and a graduating class of 253 could put Sterling anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Sterling’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,380 in math, 1,647 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Sterling, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–22 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
3–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B−
6–8Challand Middle SchoolSterling Community Unit District 5C+
9–12Sterling High SchoolSterling Community Unit District 5B−

Sterling’s public schools are run by Sterling Community Unit District 5, which also serves Coleta, Genesee, Hopkins and Jordan and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Sterling Community Unit District 5Grades PK–12 · 6 schools · 3,253 students · 15.1 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$15,512IL $21,567 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2020–21

Well below the state in reading

Reading18%
State average 29.9% · 1647 students tested
Math18%
State average 25.8% · 1380 students tested

Sterling vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Sterling’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
SterlingB−Sterling Community Unit District 5
ColomaB−Rock Falls Elementary School District 13 PK–8 · East Coloma-Nelson Consolidated Elementary School District 20 PK–8 · Rock Falls Township High School District 301 9–12
Sterling Township—Sterling Community Unit District 5
HopkinsB−Sterling Community Unit District 5
Rock FallsB−Rock Falls Elementary School District 13 PK–8 · East Coloma-Nelson Consolidated Elementary School District 20 PK–8 · Rock Falls Township High School District 301 9–12

2 of the 4 neighbors share Sterling Community Unit District 5 with Sterling, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Sterling

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Illinois’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Sterlingin other towns
Jefferson Elem School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
450 students15:1Rate it →
Franklin Elem School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
407 students14:1Rate it →
Washington Elem School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
B−
394 students12:1Rate it →
Lincoln Elem School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
C+
277 students13:1Rate it →
Challand Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
726 students16:1Rate it →
Sterling High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
999 students18:1Rate it →

Questions about Sterling’s schools

Are Sterling’s schools good?

On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Sterling children attend score below 53% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #473 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 60%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Sterling in?

Sterling Community Unit District 5, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,253 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Sterling kids go to high school?

Sterling High School, with 999 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Sterling’s graduation rate?

90% of the class of 2023 in Sterling Community Unit District 5 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Sterling spend per student?

$15,512 in Sterling Community Unit District 5 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Sterling families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sterling → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2020–21, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Illinois. Stars are from neighbors.