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Jefferson Elementary School

806 E Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081

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Tel: (815) 625-6402

www.sterlingpublicschools.org

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Jefferson Elementary School serves 450 students in grades Prekindergarten-2.

The student-teacher ratio of 15:1 is higher than the Illinois state level of 13:1.

Minority enrollment is 45% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Illinois state average of 55% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-2
Enrollment: 450 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 45%
: Jefferson Elementary School serves the southern part of Sterling, IL, covering an area of approximately 8.1 square miles. Most students live within a 5-10 minute drive from the school, with the furthest edge of the attendance zone located about 6.2 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

School Overview

Jefferson Elementary School's student population of 450 students has grown by 24% over five school years.

The teacher population of 30 teachers has grown by 25% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-2

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Jefferson Elementary School
Pre-K	121
Kind	106
1	105
2	118

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Total Students

450 students

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Students Trends (1987-2025)
Year	Jefferson Elementary School
2025	450
2024	422
2023	401
2022	391
2021	362
2020	444
2019	436
2018	446
2017	450
2016	472
2015	390
2014	410
2013	404
2012	449
2011	471
2010	419
2009	385
2008	427
2007	427
2006	551
2005	435
2004	475
2003	432
2002	453
2001	452
2000	480
1999	484
1998	509
1997	512
1996	562
1995	604
1994	581
1993	569
1992	566
1991	565
1990	562
1989	500
1988	525
1987	484

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Total Classroom Teachers

30 teachers

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1987-2025)
Year	Jefferson Elementary School
2025	30
2024	28
2023	29
2022	30
2020	24
2019	24
2018	23
2017	24
2016	23
2015	21
2014	21
2013	22
2012	26
2011	26
2010	29
2009	28
2008	21
2007	24
2006	23
2005	22
2004	23
2003	31
2002	28
2001	28
2000	27
1999	25
1998	25
1997	25
1996	28
1995	28
1994	28
1993	27
1992	26
1991	25
1990	25
1989	22
1988	24
1987	22

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School Calendar

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School Motto

Where Kids Achieve!

School Rankings

The of Jefferson Elementary School is 0.56, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.70. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (IL)

Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

13:1

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1987-2025)
Year	Jefferson Elementary School	Illinois	Sterling CUSD 5 School District
2025	15:1	13:1
2024	15:1	13:1
2023	14:1	13:1	16:1
2022	13:1	14:1	17:1
2020	19:1	14:1	18:1
2019	18:1	14:1	18:1
2018	19:1	15:1	19:1
2017	19:1	15:1	19:1
2016	21:1	15:1	20:1
2015	19:1	15:1	19:1
2014	20:1	16:1	18:1
2013	18:1	13:1	19:1
2012	17:1	16:1	16:1
2011	18:1	16:1	17:1
2010	14:1	16:1	16:1
2009	14:1	16:1	17:1
2008	20:1	18:1	19:1
2007	18:1	17:1	17:1
2006	24:1	16:1	18:1
2005	20:1	16:1	18:1
2004	21:1	17:1	18:1
2003	14:1	16:1	15:1
2002	16:1	16:1	16:1
2001	16:1	16:1	16:1
2000	18:1	17:1	17:1
1999	19:1	17:1	17:1
1998	20:1	17:1	17:1
1997	20:1	17:1	18:1
1996	20:1	18:1	18:1
1995	22:1	18:1	19:1
1994	21:1	18:1	19:1
1993	21:1	18:1	20:1
1992	22:1	18:1	20:1
1991	23:1	18:1	20:1
1990	22:1	18:1	20:1
1989	23:1	18:1	19:1
1988	22:1	18:1	19:1
1987	22:1	18:1	21:1

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Hispanic

37%

29%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Jefferson Elementary School	Illinois	Sterling CUSD 5 School District
2025	37%	29%
2024	33%	28%
2023	34%	28%	35%
2022	32%	27%	35%
2021	32%	27%	35%
2020	38%	27%	36%
2019	39%	26%	36%
2018	39%	26%	38%
2017	41%	26%	38%
2016	35%	26%	36%
2015	37%	25%	35%
2014	37%	25%	32%
2013	44%	24%	35%
2012	45%	24%	34%
2011	44%	23%	34%
2010	28%	22%	25%
2009	22%	21%	24%
2008	28%	20%	25%
2007	28%	20%	24%
2006	27%	19%	24%
2005	25%	18%	23%
2004	23%	18%	23%
2003	15%	17%	22%
2002	17%	16%	21%
2001	18%	16%	21%
2000	18%	15%	20%
1999	15%	14%	19%
1998	14%	13%	19%
1997	14%	13%	18%
1996	10%	12%	17%
1995	10%	11%	16%
1994	9%	11%	16%
1993	5%	11%	15%
1992	4%	10%	15%
1991	1%	10%	4%
1990	1%	9%	9%
1989	1%	9%	9%
1988	1%	9%	7%

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Black

16%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Jefferson Elementary School	Illinois	Sterling CUSD 5 School District
2025	2%	16%
2024	4%	17%
2023	3%	16%	2%
2022	3%	17%	2%
2021	2%	17%	2%
2020	1%	16%	3%
2019	3%	17%	3%
2018	3%	17%	3%
2017	4%	17%	3%
2016	4%	17%	3%
2015	4%	18%	3%
2014	4%	17%	4%
2013	3%	18%	3%
2012	1%	18%	3%
2011	2%	19%	3%
2010	6%	19%	6%
2009	6%	20%	7%
2008	4%	20%	6%
2007	4%	20%	6%
2006	5%	20%	5%
2005	4%	21%	5%
2004	5%	21%	5%
2003	5%	21%	5%
2002	3%	21%	4%
2001	2%	21%	3%
2000	4%	21%	4%
1999	4%	21%	4%
1998	4%	21%	4%
1997	3%	21%	3%
1996	3%	21%	3%
1995	2%	21%	3%
1994	2%	21%	2%
1993	2%	21%	3%
1992	2%	21%	2%
1991	2%	21%	2%
1990	2%	22%	2%
1989	1%	22%	2%
1988	2%	22%	2%

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White

55%

45%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Jefferson Elementary School	Illinois	Sterling CUSD 5 School District
2025	55%	45%
2024	55%	45%
2023	55%	46%	55%
2022	57%	47%	55%
2021	57%	47%	56%
2020	53%	48%	56%
2019	51%	48%	56%
2018	51%	48%	56%
2017	49%	49%	56%
2016	55%	49%	57%
2015	55%	49%	59%
2014	55%	50%	60%
2013	49%	51%	58%
2012	50%	51%	60%
2011	49%	51%	60%
2010	54%	53%	65%
2009	60%	53%	65%
2008	58%	54%	66%
2007	58%	55%	67%
2006	63%	56%	68%
2005	67%	57%	69%
2004	71%	57%	71%
2003	79%	58%	72%
2002	79%	59%	73%
2001	79%	60%	74%
2000	77%	61%	74%
1999	81%	62%	76%
1998	81%	63%	76%
1997	82%	63%	77%
1996	86%	64%	79%
1995	86%	65%	80%
1994	88%	65%	80%
1993	92%	65%	81%
1992	93%	66%	81%
1991	96%	66%	93%
1990	97%	66%	89%
1989	98%	67%	89%
1988	97%	67%	91%

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Two or more races

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2011-2025)
Year	Jefferson Elementary School	Illinois	Sterling CUSD 5 School District
2025	6%	4%
2024	8%	4%
2023	7%	4%	6%
2022	7%	4%	7%
2021	7%	4%	6%
2020	7%	4%	4%
2019	6%	4%	4%
2018	5%	4%	3%
2017	5%	3%	3%
2016	4%	3%	4%
2015	3%	3%	3%
2014	3%	3%	3%
2013	4%	3%	4%
2012	3%	3%	3%
2011	4%	3%	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

45%

55%

0.56

0.70

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Jefferson Elementary School	Illinois	Sterling CUSD 5 School District
2025	0.56	0.69
2024	0.59	0.69
2023	0.58	0.69	0.57
2022	0.57	0.68	0.57
2021	0.57	0.68	0.57
2020	0.58	0.67	0.57
2019	0.59	0.68	0.57
2018	0.59	0.68	0.55
2017	0.59	0.67	0.55
2016	0.58	0.67	0.55
2015	0.56	0.67	0.54
2014	0.56	0.66	0.54
2013	0.57	0.65	0.55
2012	0.55	0.65	0.54
2011	0.57	0.65	0.53
2010	0.51	0.64	0.46
2009	0.46	0.64	0.47
2008	0.48	0.63	0.46
2007	0.49	0.62	0.45
2006	0.49	0.61	0.46
2005	0.46	0.60	0.44
2004	0.44	0.60	0.44
2003	0.35	0.59	0.43
2002	0.35	0.59	0.42
2001	0.35	0.58	0.41
2000	0.38	0.57	0.41
1999	0.32	0.56	0.39
1998	0.33	0.55	0.39
1997	0.31	0.55	0.37
1996	0.25	0.54	0.35
1995	0.25	0.53	0.34
1994	0.22	0.53	0.33
1993	0.15	0.53	0.32
1992	0.13	0.51	0.32
1991	0.08	0.51	0.13
1990	0.06	0.51	0.20
1989	0.04	0.50	0.19
1988	0.06	0.50	0.16

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(22-23)

16.2%

29.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	Jefferson Elementary School	Illinois	Sterling CUSD 5 School District
2023	16.2%	29.7%	20.3%
2022	14.7%	31.6%	17.2%
2021	5.3%	20.9%	18%

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Eligible for

51%

43%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 24-year historical data available below ↓

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (2002-2025)
Year	Jefferson Elementary School	Illinois	Sterling CUSD 5 School District
2025	51%	43%
2024	54%	43%
2023	57%	43%	50%
2021	63%	44%	50%
2020	59%	46%	55%
2019	64%	47%	55%
2018	61%	47%	48%
2017	51%	46%	48%
2016	52%	47%	46%
2015	73%	52%	59%
2014	71%	47%	54%
2013	61%	45%	46%
2011	49%	39%	43%
2010	53%	37%	38%
2009	51%	33%	34%
2008	48%	32%	33%
2007	45%	32%	30%
2006	24%	32%	27%
2005	20%	32%	30%
2004	17%	32%	28%
2003	24%	30%	28%
2002	23%	30%	27%

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Eligible for

10%

View Data

Showing 2009–2025. Full 24-year historical data available below ↓

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (2002-2025)
Year	Jefferson Elementary School	Illinois	Sterling CUSD 5 School District
2025	10%	4%
2024	11%	4%
2023	11%	4%	4%
2021	12%	4%	4%
2017	10%	4%	3%
2014	1%	3%	3%
2013	13%	5%	13%
2011	8%	5%	7%
2010	8%	6%	8%
2009	11%	6%	10%
2008	10%	6%	8%
2007	10%	6%	9%
2006	7%	6%	9%
2005	8%	5%	9%
2004	6%	5%	8%
2003	9%	5%	8%
2002	7%	5%	7%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Sterling CUSD 5 School District

Sports

Colors

Golden and Blue

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

How many students attend Jefferson Elementary School?

450 students attend Jefferson Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

55% of Jefferson Elementary School students are White, 37% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Two or more races, and 2% of students are Black.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Jefferson Elementary School?

Jefferson Elementary School has a student ration of 15:1, which is higher than the Illinois state average of 13:1.

What grades does Jefferson Elementary School offer ?

Jefferson Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-2

What school district is Jefferson Elementary School part of?

Jefferson Elementary School is part of Sterling CUSD 5 School District.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-2
Enrollment: 450 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 45%
: Jefferson Elementary School serves the southern part of Sterling, IL, covering an area of approximately 8.1 square miles. Most students live within a 5-10 minute drive from the school, with the furthest edge of the attendance zone located about 6.2 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education