Top Rankings
Sterling CUSD 5 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Illinois for:
Category
Attribute
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 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Illinois.
Public Schools in Sterling CUSD 5 School District have an average math proficiency score of 18% (versus the Illinois public school average of 26%), 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 56% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
6 Schools
4,399 Schools
# Students
3,228 Students
1,881,779 Students
# Teachers
203 Teachers
136,665 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 844 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-2021 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 88% has increased from 81% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#605 out of 852 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)18%
28%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
18%
30%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
50%
Graduation Rate
88%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.58
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
36%
28%
% Black
2%
16%
% 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 $21,990. 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 $21,244. 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
$21,990
Spending / Student
$16,299
$21,244
Best Sterling CUSD 5 School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Sterling High School
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1608 4th Ave
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6800
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6800
Grades: 9-12
| 996 students
Rank: #22.
Washington Elementary School
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: #33.
Lincoln Elementary School
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: #44.
Challand Middle School
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: 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 #605 out of 844 school districts in Illinois (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2020-2021 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Illinois school districts for: 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 $21,244. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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