Needs Improvement
#3651 of 3,813 schools in IL
Challand Middle School
Middle School · Sterling Cusd 5 · Sterling, IL
A Sterling Cusd 5 middle school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1700 6th Ave, Sterling, IL 61081
- Math 15% proficient (2021)
- Reading 19% proficient (2022)
- 16:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Challand Middle School score 17% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 64 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 19% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 43% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 27 test records from IL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
58.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Challand Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 42Car-Dependent
- Bike 34Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,660/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Sterling), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$60,854
Median home value
$121,000
Median rent
$791/mo
College educated
20.2%
Homeownership
70.5%
Poverty rate
13.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 61081; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Falls Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | 6–8 | 2.7 mi | 247 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Sterling Cusd 5
- Schools in district
- 6
- Rank in district
- #6 of 6
- District spending per student
- $14,348NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Challand Middle School is listed in Sterling CUSD 5; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Challand Middle School
Challand Middle School is a public middle school in Sterling, IL, part of Sterling Cusd 5, serving approximately 718 students in grades 6th-8th with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and ranks #3,651 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Challand Middle School
What grades does Challand Middle School serve?
Challand Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Challand Middle School?
Challand Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 718 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challand Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Challand Middle School is 16:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Challand Middle School rank in IL?
Challand Middle School ranks #3,651 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Challand Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Challand Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Challand Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Challand Middle School has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Challand Middle School a charter school?
No, Challand Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Challand Middle School a Title I school?
No, Challand Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Challand Middle School?
58.9% of students at Challand Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 718
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 45
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Whiteside County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.8%
- Phone
- (815) 626-3300
- Area population (ZIP 61081)
- 20,916
- Area average commute
- 19.5 min
- Area median age
- 43.3
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 61081; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2021, multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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