Sterling CUSD 5 School District

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

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 2026-27 school year, there are 6 public schools serving 3,253 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.
Public 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 45% 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
4,382 Schools
# Students
3,253 Students
1,841,658 Students
# Teachers
215 Teachers
137,830 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Sterling CUSD 5 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 861 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%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

21%
27%

Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

18%
30%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

50%
50%
92%
87.6%
(2022-23)
20.3%
29.7%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.57
0.70

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%

Showing 2005–2023. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
36%
29%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
2%
16%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% White
55%
45%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
4%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $19,928 in this school district is less than the state median of $25,132. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,555 is less than the state median of $24,168. The school district spending/student has grown by 20% over four school years.
This School District
This State (IL)
Total Revenue
$65 MM
$46,284 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$60 MM
$44,509 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$19,928
$25,132

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$18,555
$24,168

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Sterling CUSD 5 School District Public Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
815 W Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-2372
Gr: 3-5 | 394 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #22.
Challand Middle School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1700 6th Ave
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 626-3300
Gr: 6-8 | 726 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #33.
Sterling High School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1608 4th Ave
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6800
Gr: 9-12 | 999 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #44.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1501 E 6th St
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-1449
Gr: 3-5 | 277 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: n/an/a
1510 E 25th St
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-5755
Gr: PK-2 | 407 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: n/an/a
806 E Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6402
Gr: PK-2 | 450 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 45%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Sterling CUSD 5 School District?
Sterling CUSD 5 School District manages 6 public schools serving 3,253 students.
What is the rank of Sterling CUSD 5 School District?
Sterling CUSD 5 School District is ranked #596 out of 861 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 15:1, 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 $18,555 is less than the state median of $24,168. The school district spending/student has grown by 20% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,253 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 45%
  • : 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

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