Sterling Cusd 5 School District
School District · Sterling, Illinois
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
6
4 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
3,228
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
6
4 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
3,228
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
How this district compares
Illinois rank
#344 of 637
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.0
below Illinois avg
Per-pupil spending
$14,348
$2,342 vs Illinois median
District size
3,228 students
Much larger than Illinois median
The short answer
Sterling Cusd 5 ranks #344 of 637 Illinois districts by overall school rating. Sterling Cusd 5's schools with real test data average 6.8/10 across 4 schools. Its top-rated schools are Washington Elem School (8.1/10), Lincoln Elem School (8.0/10), and Sterling High School (5.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +12.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Sterling Cusd 5 schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Sterling Cusd 5
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (4 of 6). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington Elem School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Lincoln Elem School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Sterling High School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Challand Middle School | 5.6 / 10 |
See all 6 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Sterling Cusd 5
Sterling Cusd 5 is a Sterling, Illinois school district serving 6 schools.The district educates 3,228 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16:1. District-level spending was $14,348 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.3/10, Sterling Cusd 5 demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Washington Elem School, which has a composite score of 8.1/10.
In standardized testing, Sterling Cusd 5 students show an average math proficiency of 33.2% and ELA proficiency of 37.8%.
The district includes 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Sterling Cusd 5, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Sterling Cusd 5 with test data.
Schools in Sterling Cusd 5
6 schoolsElementary Schools4
Middle Schools1
High Schools1
District Details
- State
- Illinois
- City
- Sterling
- Total Enrollment
- 3,228
- Teachers (FTE)
- 202
- District spending per student
- $14,348NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 13.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Sterling Cusd 5?
Sterling Cusd 5 has 6 schools in total — 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Sterling Cusd 5?
The average composite rating for Sterling Cusd 5 is 6.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Sterling Cusd 5?
Sterling Cusd 5's district-level spending was $14,348 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Sterling Cusd 5?
The average student-teacher ratio in Sterling Cusd 5 is 16:1.
What is the top-rated school in Sterling Cusd 5?
Washington Elem School is the highest-rated school in Sterling Cusd 5 with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What are the test scores in Sterling Cusd 5?
Across schools in Sterling Cusd 5 with test data, the average math proficiency is 33.2% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 37.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Sterling Cusd 5 compare to other districts in Illinois?
Sterling Cusd 5 has an average school rating of 6.3/10 across 6 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Illinois by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 33.2%
- ELA Proficiency
- 37.8%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in IL
Compare Sterling Cusd 5 with neighboring districts in the state.
- Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 (643)
- Sd U-46 (56)
- Rockford Sd 205 (45)
- Springfield Sd 186 (35)
- Indian Prairie Cusd 204 (34)
- Peoria Sd 150 (32)
- Plainfield Sd 202 (31)
- Cusd 300 (29)
- Schaumburg Ccsd 54 (28)
- Mclean County USD 5 (26)
- Cusd 308 (22)
- Joliet Psd 86 (22)
- Naperville Cusd 203 (22)
- Waukegan Cusd 60 (22)
- Aurora East USD 131 (20)
- Champaign Cusd 4 (20)
- Cusd 200 (20)
- Palatine Ccsd 15 (20)
- Valley View Cusd 365u (20)
- St Charles Cusd 303 (18)
- Aurora West USD 129 (17)
- Evanston Ccsd 65 (17)
- Decatur Sd 61 (16)
- Cicero Sd 99 (15)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Illinois Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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