Top Rankings
Sterling CUSD 5 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Illinois for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 2,232 students in Sterling CUSD 5 School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Illinois.
Public Elementary Schools in Sterling CUSD 5 School District have an average math proficiency score of 22% (versus the Illinois public elementary school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 19% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Illinois public elementary school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
6 Schools
3,104 Schools
# Students
3,228 Students
1,223,913 Students
# Teachers
203 Teachers
89,923 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Sterling CUSD 5 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 864 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has increased from 83% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#620 out of 865 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
27%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
18%
30%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
50%
Graduation Rate
92%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.58
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
6%
% Hispanic
36%
27%
% Black
2%
17%
% White
55%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $17,720 in this school district is less than the state median of $21,990. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,299 is less than the state median of $21,244. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$57 MM
$41,381 MM
Spending
$53 MM
$39,976 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,720
$21,990
Spending / Student
$16,299
$21,244
Best Sterling CUSD 5 School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
815 W Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-2372
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-2372
Grades: 3-5
| 374 students
Rank: #22.
Challand Middle School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1700 6th Ave
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 626-3300
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 626-3300
Grades: 6-8
| 718 students
Rank: #33.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1501 E 6th St
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-1449
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-1449
Grades: 3-5
| 305 students
Rank: n/an/a
1510 E 25th St
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-5755
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-5755
Grades: PK-2
| 413 students
Rank: n/an/a
806 E Le Fevre Rd
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6402
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-6402
Grades: PK-2
| 422 students
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