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 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
4,394 Schools
# Students
3,253 Students
1,842,872 Students
# Teachers
215 Teachers
137,935 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.
Overall District Rank
#620 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
27%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
18%
30%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
50%
Graduation Rate
92%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.57
0.69
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
36%
29%
% 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 $17,584 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,455. The school district revenue/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,174 is less than the state median of $21,692. 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
$17,584
$22,455
Spending / Student
$16,174
$21,692
Best Sterling CUSD 5 School District Public Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
815 W Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-2372
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:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1700 6th Ave
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 626-3300
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:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1608 4th Ave
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6800
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:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1501 E 6th St
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-1449
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
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
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 $16,174 is less than the state median of $21,692. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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