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Public School Review - Established 2003

Sterling CUSD 5 School District

410 E Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081-1391
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
3/
10
Bottom 50%
Tel: (815) 626-5050
www.sterlingpublicschools.org

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 5 public elementary schools serving 2,254 students in Sterling CUSD 5 School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Illinois.
Public Elementary Schools in Sterling CUSD 5 School District have an average math proficiency score of 22% (versus the Illinois public elementary school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 19% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public elementary school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
6 Schools
3,120 Schools
# Students
3,253 Students
1,192,824 Students
# Teachers
215 Teachers
91,472 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
Pre-K19758
Kind214120
1213131
2233134
3217140
4219138
5235138
6244138
7245118
8237120
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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.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (IL)
#620 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearSterling CUSD 5 School District
2023#620
2022#605
2021#547
2019#605
2018#633
2017#570
2016#565
2015#435
2014#518
2013#484
2012#440
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21%
27%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
202321%27%
202118%28%
201921%33%
201820%32%
201721%32%
201622%31%
201523%29%
201451%59%
201355%58%
201283%80%
201182%80%
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18%
30%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
202218%30%
202122%32%
201932%38%
201820%37%
201734%38%
201627%36%
201535%38%
201458%57%
201361%58%
201281%75%
201178%75%
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50%
50%
92%
87%

Graduation Rate Trends

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
202392%87%
202288%87%
201887%87%
201787%87%
201689%85%
201583%85%
201481%86%
201375%83%
201281%82%
201184%83%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.57
0.70

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
20240.570.70
20230.570.70
20220.570.68
20210.570.68
20200.570.68
20190.570.68
20180.550.67
20170.550.67
20160.550.67
20150.540.67
20140.540.66
20130.550.66
20120.540.65
20110.530.66
20100.460.64
20090.470.64
20080.460.64
20070.450.63
20060.460.61
20050.440.61
20040.440.60
20030.430.59
20020.420.59
20010.410.58
20000.410.57
19990.390.56
19980.390.56
19970.370.54
19960.350.53
19950.340.53
19940.330.52
19930.320.52
19920.320.52
19910.130.52
19900.200.51
19890.190.51
19880.160.50
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% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
6%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2024)

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
20241%6%
20232%6%
20221%5%
20211%5%
20201%5%
20191%5%
20093%5%
20083%5%
20073%5%
20063%5%
20053%5%
20041%4%
20031%4%
20022%4%
20012%4%
20002%3%
19991%3%
19981%3%
19972%3%
19961%3%
19951%3%
19942%3%
19931%3%
19922%3%
19911%3%
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% Hispanic
36%
28%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
202436%28%
202335%27%
202235%27%
202135%27%
202036%26%
201936%26%
201838%26%
201738%26%
201636%26%
201535%25%
201432%25%
201335%24%
201234%24%
201134%23%
201025%22%
200924%22%
200825%21%
200724%20%
200624%19%
200523%18%
200423%18%
200322%17%
200221%16%
200121%15%
200020%15%
199919%14%
199819%13%
199718%13%
199617%12%
199516%12%
199416%11%
199315%11%
199215%10%
19914%10%
19909%9%
19899%9%
19887%9%
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% Black
2%
17%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
20242%16%
20232%17%
20222%17%
20212%17%
20203%17%
20193%17%
20183%17%
20173%17%
20163%17%
20153%17%
20144%17%
20133%18%
20123%18%
20113%18%
20106%20%
20097%20%
20086%20%
20076%20%
20065%20%
20055%20%
20045%21%
20035%21%
20024%21%
20013%21%
20004%21%
19994%21%
19984%21%
19973%20%
19963%21%
19953%20%
19942%21%
19933%21%
19922%21%
19912%21%
19902%22%
19892%22%
19882%22%
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% White
55%
44%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
202455%45%
202355%45%
202255%47%
202156%47%
202056%48%
201956%48%
201856%49%
201756%49%
201657%49%
201559%49%
201460%50%
201358%50%
201260%51%
201160%51%
201065%53%
200965%53%
200866%54%
200767%55%
200668%56%
200569%57%
200471%57%
200372%58%
200273%59%
200174%60%
200074%61%
199976%62%
199876%63%
199777%64%
199679%64%
199580%65%
199480%65%
199381%65%
199281%66%
199193%66%
199089%66%
198989%66%
198891%67%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2012-2024)

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
20246%4%
20236%4%
20227%4%
20216%4%
20204%4%
20194%4%
20183%3%
20173%3%
20164%3%
20153%3%
20143%3%
20134%3%
20123%3%
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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.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (IL)
Total Revenue
$57 MM
$41,381 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
2023$57 MM$15 MM
2022$51 MM$14 MM
2021$57 MM$15 MM
2020$51 MM$14 MM
2019$48 MM$14 MM
2018$47 MM$15 MM
2017$40 MM$13 MM
2016$38 MM$12 MM
2015$34 MM$10 MM
2014$37 MM$12 MM
2012$37 MM$11 MM
2011$39 MM$11 MM
2010$34 MM$10 MM
2009$36 MM$10 MM
2008$35 MM$9 MM
2007$32 MM$9 MM
2006$29 MM$8 MM
2005$29 MM$8 MM
2004$27 MM$8 MM
2003$28 MM$7 MM
2002$27 MM$8 MM
2001$26 MM$7 MM
2000$27 MM$7 MM
1999$28 MM$7 MM
1998$23 MM$6 MM
1997$23 MM$5 MM
1996$21 MM$5 MM
1995$20 MM$5 MM
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Spending
$53 MM
$39,976 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
2023$53 MM$14 MM
2022$52 MM$14 MM
2021$53 MM$14 MM
2020$52 MM$14 MM
2019$51 MM$13 MM
2018$54 MM$14 MM
2017$40 MM$12 MM
2016$35 MM$12 MM
2015$36 MM$11 MM
2014$37 MM$12 MM
2012$38 MM$11 MM
2011$37 MM$11 MM
2010$36 MM$11 MM
2009$34 MM$10 MM
2008$32 MM$9 MM
2007$31 MM$9 MM
2006$28 MM$8 MM
2005$28 MM$8 MM
2004$27 MM$8 MM
2003$30 MM$8 MM
2002$31 MM$8 MM
2001$29 MM$7 MM
2000$29 MM$7 MM
1999$29 MM$6 MM
1998$23 MM$6 MM
1997$23 MM$5 MM
1996$20 MM$5 MM
1995$21 MM$5 MM
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Revenue / Student
$17,584
$22,455

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
2023$17,525$17,333
2022$15,553$19,707
2021$17,530$17,764
2020$15,553$19,707
2019$14,311$17,662
2018$13,882$19,255
2017$12,063$17,801
2016$11,271$14,596
2015$9,849$11,118
2014$10,672$13,203
2012$10,685$11,701
2011$10,868$11,859
2010$9,297$11,118
2009$10,036$10,546
2008$10,080$11,298
2007$9,641$10,143
2006$8,030$9,054
2005$8,328$9,158
2004$7,653$8,999
2003$7,569$8,614
2002$7,292$8,976
2001$6,848$8,649
2000$7,300$8,451
1999$7,338$7,697
1998$5,242$5,971
1997$5,141$5,662
1995$5,120$5,677
1992$3,949$4,514
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Spending / Student
$16,174
$21,692

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearSterling CUSD 5 School DistrictIllinois
2023$16,119$16,251
2022$15,804$19,097
2021$16,124$16,655
2020$15,804$19,097
2019$15,135$17,005
2018$15,905$18,215
2017$11,940$17,235
2016$10,427$14,516
2015$10,618$11,218
2014$10,890$12,904
2012$11,134$11,755
2011$10,513$11,220
2010$10,023$11,218
2009$9,569$10,416
2008$9,228$10,971
2007$9,153$9,827
2006$7,780$8,997
2005$8,003$9,234
2004$7,582$9,089
2003$8,128$9,395
2002$8,334$9,305
2001$7,800$8,562
2000$7,715$8,142
1999$7,691$7,325
1998$5,220$5,848
1997$5,273$5,503
1995$5,182$5,507
1992$4,161$4,672
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Best Sterling CUSD 5 School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

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.
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
Franklin Elementary School
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
Jefferson Elementary School
806 E Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6402
Gr: PK-2 | 450 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 45%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • 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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