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Sterling School District

Item: Sterling School District
Rating: 5
Author: Public School Review

250 Main St
Sterling, NE 68443-0039

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (402) 866-4761

For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public schools serving 224 students in Sterling School District. This district's average is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Nebraska.

Public Schools in Sterling School District have an score of 64% (versus the Nebraska public school average of 58%), and score of 45% (versus the 47% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 9% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Nebraska public school average of 39% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District

This State (NE)

# Schools

2 Schools

1,095 Schools

# Students

224 Students

330,322 Students

# Teachers

20 Teachers

24,220 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

11:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Sterling School District	Nebraska
Pre-K	31	71
Kind	18	79
1	14	82
2	12	85
3	18	87
4	18	87
5	15	88
6	17	86
7	16	87
8	10	86
9	18	91
10	11	93
11	10	91
12	16	91

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District Rank

Sterling School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 245 school districts in Nebraska (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 80% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School District

State Average (NE)

#140 out of 246 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Sterling School District
2023	#140
2022	#143
2021	#133
2019	#97
2018	#46
2017	#32
2016	#6
2015	#12
2014	#10
2013	#92
2012	#122

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65%

58%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2023	65%	58%
2022	47%	46%
2021	47%	46%
2019	62%	52%
2018	62%	51%
2017	82%	69%
2016	92%	72%
2015	87%	72%
2014	92%	71%
2013	77%	69%
2012	72%	67%

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45-49%

47%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2022	47%	47%
2021	47%	48%
2019	52%	52%
2018	62%	51%
2017	62%	51%
2016	92%	82%
2015	92%	79%
2014	87%	77%
2013	82%	76%
2012	77%	74%
2011	77%	72%

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40-49%

62%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2022	44%	62%
2021	49%	52%

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(21-22)

≥80%

87%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2022	80%	87%
2021	50%	85%
2020	50%	84%
2019	80%	85%
2018	50%	85%
2017	80%	86%
2016	80%	87%
2015	80%	86%
2014	80%	86%
2013	80%	86%
2012	50%	84%

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(2022-23)

17.9%

22.6%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate Trends
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2023	17.9%	22.6%
2022	26.4%	24.2%
2021	28.5%	21.2%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.17

0.58

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2023	0.14	0.56
2022	0.13	0.54
2021	0.09	0.54
2020	0.08	0.53
2019	0.08	0.53
2018	0.06	0.53
2017	0.06	0.53
2016	0.07	0.50
2015	0.07	0.50
2014	0.08	0.49
2013	0.08	0.48
2012	0.08	0.48
2011	0.06	0.48
2010	0.06	0.43
2009	0.06	0.42
2008	0.06	0.42
2007	0.03	0.40
2006	0.06	0.39
2005	0.03	0.38
2004	0.08	0.36
2003	0.07	0.34
2002	0.07	0.33
2001	0.04	0.31
2000	0.03	0.30
1999	0.04	0.26
1998	0.05	0.25
1997	0.05	0.24
1996	0.02	0.22

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% American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2004-2006)
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2006	1%	2%
2004	1%	2%

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% Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1997-2018)
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2018	1%	3%
2017	1%	3%
2016	1%	3%
2015	1%	2%
2014	1%	2%
2013	2%	2%
2012	2%	2%
2011	1%	2%
2010	1%	2%
2009	2%	2%
2008	1%	2%
2007	2%	2%
2006	1%	2%
2004	1%	2%
2003	1%	2%
2002	1%	2%
2001	1%	2%
2000	1%	2%
1999	2%	2%
1998	1%	1%
1997	1%	1%

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% Hispanic

23%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1997-2023)
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2023	7%	21%
2022	7%	21%
2021	5%	20%
2020	3%	19%
2019	3%	19%
2018	2%	19%
2017	2%	19%
2016	2%	18%
2015	2%	18%
2014	1%	17%
2013	1%	17%
2003	1%	9%
2002	1%	8%
1999	1%	3%
1997	1%	5%

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% Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1998-2020)
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2020	1%	7%
2019	1%	7%
2016	1%	7%
2015	1%	7%
2014	2%	7%
2013	1%	7%
2012	2%	7%
2011	2%	7%
2010	2%	8%
2009	1%	8%
2008	2%	8%
2006	1%	7%
2005	2%	7%
2004	2%	7%
2003	2%	7%
2002	2%	7%
2001	1%	7%
2000	1%	6%
1998	1%	6%

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% White

91%

61%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2023	93%	63%
2022	93%	64%
2021	95%	65%
2020	96%	66%
2019	96%	66%
2018	97%	66%
2017	97%	66%
2016	96%	68%
2015	96%	68%
2014	96%	69%
2013	96%	70%
2012	96%	70%
2011	97%	71%
2010	97%	74%
2009	97%	74%
2008	97%	75%
2007	98%	76%
2006	97%	78%
2005	98%	78%
2004	96%	79%
2003	96%	80%
2002	96%	81%
2001	98%	82%
2000	98%	84%
1999	97%	86%
1998	98%	86%
1997	97%	87%
1996	99%	88%
1995	99%	88%
1994	100%	88%
1993	100%	89%
1992	100%	89%
1991	100%	90%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

n/a

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,063 is higher than the state median of $15,379. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $16,339 is less than the state median of $16,683. The school district spending/student has declined by 8% over four school years.

This School District

This State (NE)

Total Revenue

$4 MM

$5,080 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2023	$4 MM	$7 MM
2022	$4 MM	$7 MM
2021	$4 MM	$7 MM
2020	$4 MM	$7 MM
2019	$4 MM	$7 MM
2018	$4 MM	$7 MM
2017	$4 MM	$7 MM
2016	$3 MM	$7 MM
2015	$3 MM	$5 MM
2014	$4 MM	$6 MM
2012	$3 MM	$5 MM
2011	$3 MM	$5 MM
2010	$3 MM	$5 MM
2009	$3 MM	$5 MM
2008	$2 MM	$5 MM
2007	$3 MM	$4 MM
2006	$3 MM	$2 MM
2005	$2 MM	$2 MM
2004	$2 MM	$2 MM
2003	$2 MM	$1 MM
2002	$2 MM	$1 MM
2001	$2 MM	$1 MM
2000	$2 MM	$1 MM
1999	$2 MM	$1 MM
1998	$2 MM	$1 MM
1997	$2 MM	0
1996	$2 MM	0
1995	$2 MM	0

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Spending

$4 MM

$5,511 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2023	$4 MM	$7 MM
2022	$4 MM	$7 MM
2021	$4 MM	$7 MM
2020	$4 MM	$7 MM
2019	$4 MM	$7 MM
2018	$4 MM	$7 MM
2017	$3 MM	$7 MM
2016	$3 MM	$6 MM
2015	$3 MM	$5 MM
2014	$4 MM	$6 MM
2012	$3 MM	$5 MM
2011	$3 MM	$5 MM
2010	$3 MM	$5 MM
2009	$3 MM	$5 MM
2008	$2 MM	$4 MM
2007	$2 MM	$4 MM
2006	$3 MM	$2 MM
2005	$4 MM	$2 MM
2004	$2 MM	$2 MM
2003	$2 MM	$1 MM
2002	$2 MM	$1 MM
2001	$2 MM	$1 MM
2000	$2 MM	$1 MM
1999	$2 MM	$1 MM
1998	$2 MM	$1 MM
1997	$2 MM	0
1996	$2 MM	0
1995	$2 MM	0

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Revenue / Student

$18,063

$15,379

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2023	$18,063	$20,877
2022	$18,167	$19,557
2021	$18,391	$20,591
2020	$18,167	$19,557
2019	$17,889	$18,842
2018	$19,313	$18,137
2017	$19,255	$21,513
2016	$16,442	$21,928
2015	$13,463	$15,061
2014	$16,597	$16,989
2012	$15,428	$14,891
2011	$15,452	$15,008
2010	$13,463	$15,061
2009	$13,075	$13,761
2008	$10,907	$12,540
2007	$12,874	$12,537
2006	$11,711	$13,266
2005	$9,595	$12,192
2004	$8,700	$10,755
2003	$8,742	$9,511
2002	$8,771	$9,609
2001	$7,393	$9,292
2000	$7,576	$9,055
1999	$6,900	$9,188
1998	$7,658	$8,736
1997	$7,810	$6,779
1995	$6,808	$5,667
1992	$6,640	$5,054

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Spending / Student

$16,339

$16,683

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Sterling School District	Nebraska
2023	$16,339	$20,039
2022	$17,884	$19,516
2021	$16,636	$19,764
2020	$17,884	$19,516
2019	$16,435	$18,820
2018	$21,192	$17,818
2017	$17,740	$21,152
2016	$16,630	$21,053
2015	$12,926	$13,876
2014	$16,551	$16,710
2012	$15,228	$14,721
2011	$13,267	$14,070
2010	$12,926	$13,876
2009	$12,089	$13,000
2008	$10,348	$12,053
2007	$11,067	$11,886
2006	$13,636	$12,059
2005	$15,643	$11,185
2004	$8,682	$10,622
2003	$9,226	$9,698
2002	$8,927	$10,047
2001	$7,812	$9,108
2000	$7,537	$8,679
1999	$6,610	$8,700
1998	$7,523	$7,889
1997	$7,619	$7,074
1995	$6,515	$6,016
1992	$6,394	$4,757

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Best Sterling School District Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.

Sterling Elementary School

(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 40-49%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

250 Main St
Sterling, NE 68443
(402) 866-4761

Gr: PK-6 | 143 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 7%

Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.

Sterling High School

(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 40-49%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

250 Main St
Sterling, NE 68443
(402) 866-4761

Gr: 7-12 | 81 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 12%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Sterling School District?

Sterling School District manages 2 public schools serving 224 students.

What is the rank of Sterling School District?

Sterling School District is ranked #155 out of 245 school districts in Nebraska (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year.

What is the racial composition of students in Sterling School District?

91% of Sterling School District students are White, 8% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are Black.

What is the student/teacher ratio of Sterling School District?

Sterling School District has a student/teacher ratio of 11:1, which is lower than the Nebraska state average of 14:1.

What is Sterling School District's spending/student ratio?

The school district's spending/student of $16,339 is less than the state median of $16,683. The school district spending/student has declined by 8% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 2 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 224 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1
Minority Enrollment: 9%
: ≥80% (Top 50% in NE)
: Bottom 50%
: 65% (Top 50%)
: 45-49% (Btm 50%)
: 40-49% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NE Dept. of Education