Average
#1671 of 3,813 schools in IL
Top 44% in state
Sterling High School
High School · Sterling Cusd 5 · Sterling, IL
A Sterling Cusd 5 high school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1608 4th Ave, Sterling, IL 61081
- Math 22% proficient (2021)
- Reading 17% proficient (2022)
- 5/5 advanced STEM subjects
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Sterling High School score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 14 points since 2019, to 17% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 34% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 38% (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
51.6%
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 Sterling High 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 53Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 36Somewhat 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.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newman Central Catholic High SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.8private | 9–12 | 1.1 mi | 203 | Compare → |
| Rock Falls Township High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.3 | 9–12 | 1.8 mi | 547 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Sterling Cusd 5
- Schools in district
- 6
- Rank in district
- #1 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
Sterling High School is listed in Sterling CUSD 5; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Sterling High School
Sterling High School is a public high school in Sterling, IL, part of Sterling Cusd 5, serving approximately 996 students in grades 9th-12th with a 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,671 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Sterling High School
What grades does Sterling High School serve?
Sterling High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Sterling High School?
Sterling High School has an enrollment of approximately 996 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sterling High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sterling High School is 18.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Sterling High School rank in IL?
Sterling High School ranks #1,671 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Sterling High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Sterling High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 Sterling High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Sterling High School has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Sterling High School a charter school?
No, Sterling High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Sterling High School a Title I school?
No, Sterling High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sterling High School?
51.6% of students at Sterling High 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 996
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 53
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Whiteside County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 20.0%
- Phone
- (815) 625-6800
- 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.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
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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