Top Rankings
Sterling CUSD 5 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Illinois for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public schools serving 3,228 students in Sterling CUSD 5 School District. This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Illinois.
ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Schools in Sterling CUSD 5 School District have an average math proficiency score of 21% (versus the Illinois public school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 19% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public school average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
6 Schools
4,398 Schools
# Students
3,228 Students
1,845,459 Students
# Teachers
203 Teachers
136,655 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Sterling CUSD 5 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 864 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has increased from 83% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#620 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
27%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
18%
30%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
50%
Graduation Rate
92%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.58
0.69
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
36%
28%
% Black
2%
17%
% White
55%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $17,720 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,423. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,299 is less than the state median of $21,662. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$57 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$53 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,720
$22,423
Spending / Student
$16,299
$21,662
Best Sterling CUSD 5 School District ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
815 W Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-2372
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-2372
Grades: 3-5
| 374 students
Rank: #22.
Challand Middle School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1700 6th Ave
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 626-3300
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 626-3300
Grades: 6-8
| 718 students
Rank: #33.
Sterling High School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1608 4th Ave
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6800
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6800
Grades: 9-12
| 996 students
Rank: #44.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1501 E 6th St
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-1449
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-1449
Grades: 3-5
| 305 students
Rank: n/an/a
1510 E 25th St
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-5755
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-5755
Grades: PK-2
| 413 students
Rank: n/an/a
806 E Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6402
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6402
Grades: PK-2
| 422 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Sterling CUSD 5 School District?
Sterling CUSD 5 School District manages 6 public schools serving 3,228 students.
What is the rank of Sterling CUSD 5 School District?
Sterling CUSD 5 School District is ranked #595 out of 864 school districts in Illinois (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Illinois school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 20%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Sterling CUSD 5 School District?
55% of Sterling CUSD 5 School District students are White, 36% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Sterling CUSD 5 School District?
Sterling CUSD 5 School District has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is higher than the Illinois state average of 14:1.
What is Sterling CUSD 5 School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $16,299 is less than the state median of $21,662. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Recent Articles
The 15 Biggest Failures of the American ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Education System
The world is in a constant state of change and those who fail to adjust fall behind. Unfortunately, the American public education system has not kept up with the times and is currently facing a number of serious problems. Keep reading to learn about the biggest failures affecting the modern U.S. public education system as well as some of the trends that could spark change.
Florida Governor Calls for More Funding for State’s ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø School System
Florida Governor Rick Scott has introduced a state budget for next year that pumps one billion more dollars into the public school system. We’ll look at his reasons for the increase and the responses to the proposal.
Can Your Child’s School Meet the National Standards?
The article discusses the challenges public schools face in meeting national educational standards. It examines current performance trends, identifies key issues affecting student achievement, and explores potential solutions for improving academic outcomes across U.S. public schools.
