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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Whiteside County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 43 public schools serving 8,411 students in Whiteside County, IL (there are 6 private schools, serving 799 private students). 91% of all K-12 students in Whiteside County, IL are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
The top-ranked public schools in Whiteside County, IL are Bi-county-3-5 Life Skills-merrill, Bi-county Sp Ed-3-5 Life Skills-m and Bi-county Sp Ed-life Skill Jr Hgh. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Whiteside County, IL public schools have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the Illinois public school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 27% (versus the 30% statewide average). Schools in Whiteside County have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of Illinois public schools.
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public school average of 55% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Whiteside County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Bi-county-3-5 Life Skills-merrill
Special Education School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
815 W Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-2372
Rank: #2 - 42. - 4.
Bi-county Sp Ed-3-5 Life Skills-m
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
100 Academic Dr
Morrison, IL 61270
(815) 772-2183
Rank: #2 - 42. - 4.
Bi-county Sp Ed-life Skill Jr Hgh
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
300 Academic Dr
Morrison, IL 61270
(815) 772-7264
Rank: #2 - 42. - 4.
Bi-county-jr High School Life Skills-rock
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1701 12th Ave
Rock Falls, IL 61071
(815) 626-2626
Rank: #55.
Southside School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
100 Academic Dr
Morrison, IL 61270
(815) 772-2183
Gr: 3-5 | 200 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #66.
Plt Middle School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
38 Ferry St
Prophetstown, IL 61277
(815) 537-5084
Gr: 6-8 | 148 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #77.
Erie Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
518 7th Ave
Erie, IL 61250
(309) 659-2239
Gr: PK-4 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #88.
Rock Falls Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1701 12th Ave
Rock Falls, IL 61071
(815) 626-2626
Gr: 6-8 | 246 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #99.
Erie Middle School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
500 5th Ave
Erie, IL 61250
(309) 659-2239
Gr: 5-8 | 171 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #1010.
Prophetstown Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
301 W 3rd St
Prophetstown, IL 61277
(815) 537-2345
Gr: PK-3 | 229 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1111.
Montmorency Ccsd #145
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
9415 Hoover Rd
Rock Falls, IL 61071
(815) 625-6616
Gr: K-8 | 209 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #1212.
Erie High School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
435 6th Ave
Erie, IL 61250
(309) 659-2239
Gr: 9-12 | 190 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #1313.
Fulton Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1301 7th Ave
Fulton, IL 61252
(815) 589-2900
Gr: K-5 | 421 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Fulton High School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1207 12th St
Fulton, IL 61252
(815) 589-3511
Gr: 9-12 | 284 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Morrison High School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
643 Genesee Ave
Morrison, IL 61270
(815) 772-4071
Gr: 9-12 | 294 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #1616.
River Bend Middle School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
415 12th St
Fulton, IL 61252
(815) 589-2611
Gr: 6-8 | 228 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1717.
Tampico Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
304 W Kimball Rd
Tampico, IL 61283
(815) 438-2255
Gr: PK-5 | 156 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1818.
Prophetstown High School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
310 W Riverside Dr
Prophetstown, IL 61277
(815) 537-5161
Gr: 9-12 | 205 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1919.
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: #2020.
Morrison Jr High School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
300 Academic Dr
Morrison, IL 61270
(815) 772-7264
Gr: 6-8 | 215 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #2121.
East Coloma - Nelson Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1602 Dixon Rd
Rock Falls, IL 61071
(815) 625-4400
Gr: PK-8 | 214 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2222.
Regional Center For Change Alop
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
500 E 5th St
Rock Falls, IL 61071
(815) 564-2032
Gr: 6-12
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Merrill Elementary School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
600 4th Ave
Rock Falls, IL 61071
(815) 625-4634
Gr: 3-5 | 258 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Rock Falls Township High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
101 12th Ave
Rock Falls, IL 61071
(815) 625-3886
Gr: 9-12 | 530 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #2525.
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: #2626.
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: #2727.
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: #2828.
Thome Educational School
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
500 E 5th St
Rock Falls, IL 61071
(815) 625-1026
Gr: K-12
Rank: n/an/a
Bi-county Sp Ed-k-2 Life Skills-m
Special Education School
520 N Genesee St
Morrison, IL 61270
(815) 772-2153
Rank: n/an/a
Bi-county Sp Ed-life Skills High School-mo
Special Education School
643 Genesee Ave
Morrison, IL 61270
(815) 772-4071
Rank: n/an/a
Bi-county Sp Ed-transition Life S
Special Education School
1900 W Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 622-0858
Rank: n/an/a
Bi-county Sped High School
Special Education School
1608 5th Ave
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 626-8510
Rank: n/an/a
Bi-county-k-2 Life Skills-dillon
Special Education School
806 E Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6402
Rank: n/an/a
Dillon Elementary School
1901 8th Ave
Rock Falls, IL 61071
(815) 625-3356
Gr: K-2 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: n/an/a
Early Step Pre-school
1217 14th St
Fulton, IL 61252
(815) 589-2309
Gr: PK | 65 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Show 8 more public schools in Whiteside County, IL (out of 43 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Whiteside County, IL?
The top-ranked public schools in Whiteside County, IL include Bi-county-3-5 Life Skills-merrill, Bi-county Sp Ed-3-5 Life Skills-m and Bi-county Sp Ed-life Skill Jr Hgh.
How many public schools are located in Whiteside County?
41 public schools are located in Whiteside County.
What percentage of students in Whiteside County go to public school?
91% of all K-12 students in Whiteside County are educated in public schools (compared to the IL state average of 88%).
What is the racial composition of students in Whiteside County?
Whiteside County public schools minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public schools average of 55% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Whiteside County are often viewed compared to one another?

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