Very Good
#448 of 3,192 schools in MI
Top 14% in state
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School
Elementary School · Airport Community Schools · Carleton, MI
An Airport Community Schools elementary school where students score 20 points above what's typical for similar communities.
160 FESSNER RD, Carleton, MI 48117
- Math 64% vs MI 40% (2022)
- Reading 66% vs MI 43% (2022)
- 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Joseph C Sterling Elementary School score 65% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 14-year record (2009–2022), then recovered 18 points since 2019, reaching 65% in 2022.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 62% (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 32 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
47.3%
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 Joseph C Sterling Elementary 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 5Car-Dependent
- Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated754/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$76,600
Median home value
$276,600
Median rent
$1,081/mo
College educated
14.5%
Homeownership
88.6%
Poverty rate
11%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 48117; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Center for EducationEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | K–12 | 0.1 mi | 60 | Compare → |
| Loren Eyler Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.5 | PK–4 | 2.1 mi | 279 | Compare → |
| St Patrick Elementary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.3private | PK–8 | 2.4 mi | 83 | Compare → |
| St John's Lutheran SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.2private | PK–8 | 3.9 mi | 104 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Airport Community Schools
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #3 of 8
- District spending per student
- $12,963NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is listed in Airport Community Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Joseph C Sterling Elementary School
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is a public elementary school in Carleton, MI, part of Airport Community Schools, serving approximately 364 students in grades Pre-K-4th with a 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #448 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Joseph C Sterling Elementary School
What grades does Joseph C Sterling Elementary School serve?
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.
How many students attend Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 364 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is 17.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Joseph C Sterling Elementary School rank in MI?
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School ranks #448 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Joseph C Sterling Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Joseph C Sterling Elementary School has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Joseph C Sterling Elementary School a charter school?
No, Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Joseph C Sterling Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
47.3% of students at Joseph C Sterling Elementary 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
- Pre-K – 4th
- Enrollment
- 364
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Monroe County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 19.5%
- Phone
- (734) 654-6846
- Area population (ZIP 48117)
- 10,199
- Area average commute
- 28.5 min
- Area median age
- 48.9
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 · 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.
- 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 48117; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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