Below Average
#2665 of 3,192 schools in MI
Sterling Elementary School
Elementary School · Standish-sterling Community Schools · Sterling, MI
A Standish-sterling Community Schools elementary school where students score 18 points above what's typical for similar communities.
338 WEST STATE ST, Sterling, MI 48659
- Math 52% proficient (2016)
- Reading 52% proficient (2016)
- 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Sterling Elementary School score 52% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).
2016 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 5 points since 2013, to 52% in 2016, across a 8-year record (2009–2016).
Show all 8 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2016) · reading/ELA 70% (multi-year average, 2009-2016)
Based on 16 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
65.5%
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 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 24Car-Dependent
- Bike 28Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated704/100K
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
$58,021
Median home value
$118,900
Median rent
$857/mo
College educated
11.6%
Homeownership
86.7%
Poverty rate
16.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 48659; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standishsterling Central Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | PK–6 | 3.6 mi | 649 | 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.
Standish-sterling Community Schools
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #3 of 3
- District spending per student
- $13,371NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Sterling Elementary School is listed in Standish-Sterling Community Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Sterling Elementary School
Sterling Elementary School is a public elementary school in Sterling, MI, part of Standish-sterling Community Schools, serving approximately 174 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10 and ranks #2,665 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2016) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2016).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Sterling Elementary School
What grades does Sterling Elementary School serve?
Sterling Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Sterling Elementary School?
Sterling Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 174 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sterling Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sterling Elementary School is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Sterling Elementary School rank in MI?
Sterling Elementary School ranks #2,665 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Sterling Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Sterling Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 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 Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Sterling Elementary School has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2016) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2016).
Is Sterling Elementary School a charter school?
No, Sterling Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Sterling Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Sterling Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sterling Elementary School?
65.5% of students at 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 – 5th
- Enrollment
- 174
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Arenac County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 35.1%
- Phone
- (989) 654-2367
- Area population (ZIP 48659)
- 2,740
- Area average commute
- 28.8 min
- Area median age
- 38.4
Official sources & links
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 · 2016 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2016 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 · 2016 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2016 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 48659; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2016; directory SY 2023–24
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