Sterling Community Unit School District 5

410 E Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081-1391
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Sterling Community Unit School District 5 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 2026 school year, there are 2 public preschools serving 835 students in Sterling Community Unit School District 5.
Public Preschools in Sterling Community Unit School District 5 have a diversity score of 0.57, which is less than the Illinois public preschool average of 0.70.
Minority enrollment is 43% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public preschool average of 58% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
6 Schools
1,386 Schools
# Students
3,228 Students
511,999 Students
# Teachers
203 Teachers
38,166 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Sterling Community Unit School District 5, 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.
This School District
State Average (IL)
#620 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
21%
27%
18%
30%
50%
50%
92%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.57
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
36%
32%
% Black
2%
18%
% White
55%
42%
% 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 $22,430. The school district revenue/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,299 is less than the state median of $21,668. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (IL)
Total Revenue
$57 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$53 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,720
$22,430
Spending / Student
$16,299
$21,668

Best Sterling Community Unit School District 5 Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: n/an/a
1510 E 25th St
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-5755
Gr: PK-2 | 413 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: n/an/a
806 E Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6402
Gr: PK-2 | 422 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 45%

Recent Articles

The Experience of Being a New Student Mid-Year
The Experience of Being a New Student Mid-Year
Learn what students experience when transferring to a public school mid-year and how schools help new students adjust socially and academically.
How Public Schools Structure Free Periods or Study Time
How Public Schools Structure Free Periods or Study Time
Learn how public schools structure free periods or study time to support homework, tutoring, enrichment, and student independence.
The Role of Hallways, Common Areas, and Shared Spaces in Public Schools
The Role of Hallways, Common Areas, and Shared Spaces in Public Schools
Discover how hallways, cafeterias, libraries, and shared spaces shape student learning, safety, and school culture in public schools.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,228 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 46%
  • : 92% (Top 20% in IL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 21% (Btm 50%)
  • : 18% (Btm 50%)
  • : 50% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

Quick Links