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Sterling Elementary

Q: Is Sterling Elementary a good school?

Sterling Elementary ranks 100 th of 175 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

100^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 175 Alaska Elementary Schools

Better than 43% of Alaska elementary schools

Summary

Sterling Elementary is a public elementary school located in Sterling, Alaska, serving grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 124 students. It is part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, which is ranked 12th out of 24 districts in Alaska and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Sterling Elementary has had a fluctuating performance over the years, with its statewide ranking ranging from 39th out of 218 schools in 2013-2014 (4-star rating) to 153rd out of 176 schools in 2022-2023 (1-star rating). The school's performance has been particularly low in recent years, with 1-star ratings for the 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024 school years. Student performance, as measured by proficiency rates in various subjects and grade levels, is generally lower than the district and state averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (23.53% for all grades) and Mathematics (42.65% for all grades) are significantly below the district (37.35% and 38.78%, respectively) and state (32.69% and 32.18%, respectively) averages.

However, Sterling Elementary's performance for low socioeconomic status students is relatively strong, with a 3-star and 4-star rating in the 2024-2025 and 2023-2024 school years, respectively. The school's performance is generally lower than the nearby Nikiski North Star Elementary, Kalifornsky Beach Elementary, and Soldotna Elementary, which tend to have higher proficiency rates and statewide rankings. The district's charter schools, such as Kaleidoscope School of Arts & Science and Soldotna Montessori Charter School, also consistently outperform Sterling Elementary.

114

Students ?

11.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

38.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

35096 Sterling Hwy
Sterling, AK 99672

(907) 262-4944

District: Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Students who attend Sterling Elementary usually attend:

Middle:

Skyview Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

73.7%

Two or more races:

14.9%

American Indian:

7.9%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Sterling Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 13th percentile in 2023 → 43rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 43rd (2025) from a 13th-percentile low (2023)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school35%

District avg39%

Alaska avg33%

100^th of 175

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Bottom 43%▼ down 18 pts since 2015

From top 39% (2015) to bottom 43% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 15Elementary Schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

12^th of 24Kenai Peninsula Borough School District among Alaska districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	43.2	100 of 175	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.4	101 of 173	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	16.0	153 of 176	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.1	125 of 171	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.8	132 of 173	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.0	123 of 185	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	20.7	158 of 186	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	26.2	148 of 180	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	58.2	96 of 246	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	77.8	39 of 218	82.1%	★★★★☆
2013	66.8	79 of 223	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	65.6	85 of 227	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	68.0	73 of 223	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	73.1	67 of 229	70.7%	★★★★☆
2009	74.3	58 of 226	74.3%	★★★★☆
2008	71.7	66 of 219	69.9%	★★★★☆
2007	59.4	111 of 212	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	55.6	122 of 218	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2005	69.2	71 of 213	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	60.1	60 of 154	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.7	80 of 142	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	21.1	125 of 152	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	55.8	58 of 143	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	17.7	122 of 141	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.0	115 of 159	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	63.4	44 of 125	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.7	31 of 122	74.6%	★★★★☆
2019	75.7	27 of 147	81.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	49.6	77 of 149	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.6	83 of 150	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.0	94 of 142	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.3	85 of 159	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	32.4	105 of 139	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.1	107 of 133	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	8.6	133 of 138	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.9	127 of 137	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.5	125 of 127	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	31.6	108 of 147	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)65th percentile+22 vs school

Female (2025)61st percentile+18 vs school

Male (2025)48th percentile+5 vs school

White (2025)24th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2024-2025) ?

Science47%+9 vs state

Mathematics43%+10 vs state

English Language Arts24%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Sterling Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				STAR English Language Arts (2025)							STAR Mathematics (2025)					ASA Science (2025)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAR English Language Arts 3rd Grade	STAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	STAR English Language Arts All Grades	STAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAR Mathematics All Grades	ASA Science 5th Grade	ASA Science 8th Grade	ASA Science All Grades	Total
Sterling Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	35096 Sterling Hwy	Sterling	99672	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 262-4944	114	10	11.2	38.6%	84 (73.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (14.9%)	43.2	100^th of 175 public elementary schools	42.9%		43.4	101^st of 173 public elementary schools	41.6%	1	26.7		23.5	35.0			23.5	53.3	25.0	35.3	55.0	42.7	47.1		47.1
Soldotna Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	162 E Park Ave	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 260-5100	266	20	13.5	44.0%	172 (64.7%)	2 (0.8%)	24 (9.0%)	2 (0.8%)	21 (7.9%)	1 (0.4%)	44 (16.5%)	41.6	106^th of 175 public elementary schools	39.4%		66	55^th of 173 public elementary schools	68.2%	51	20.5	12.1	34.2	69.0			32.4	33.3	30.3	42.1	55.2	39.6	44.7		44.7
Soldotna Montessori Charter School	Public, Charter	K-6	158 E Park Ave	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 260-9221	164	10	15.8	24.4%	137 (83.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.3%)	1 (0.6%)	5 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (8.5%)	77.8	28^th of 175 public elementary schools	84.0%					(n/a)	25.0	54.2	73.9	60.9			53.2	37.5	54.2	73.9	60.9	56.4	78.3		78.3
Redoubt Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	486 W Redoubt Ave	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 260-4300	321	22	14.6	50.5%	208 (64.8%)	4 (1.2%)	23 (7.2%)	7 (2.2%)	27 (8.4%)	1 (0.3%)	51 (15.9%)	55	78^th of 175 public elementary schools	55.4%		47.3	97^th of 173 public elementary schools	43.9%	19	36.4	42.9	54.6	45.3			44.1	40.9	46.9	42.4	34.0	40.8	42.4		42.4
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	1049 E Poppy Lane	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 260-1300	384	25	15.5	45.1%	252 (65.6%)	2 (0.5%)	31 (8.1%)	5 (1.3%)	37 (9.6%)	2 (0.5%)	55 (14.3%)	45	96^th of 175 public elementary schools	45.1%		54.2	85^th of 173 public elementary schools	50.9%	11	21.3	30.2	32.2	55.1			33.8	36.1	43.4	44.1	46.9	42.3	42.4		42.4
Mt. View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	315 Swires Rd	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 283-8600	449	32	14.1	57.5%	249 (55.5%)	3 (0.7%)	34 (7.6%)	1 (0.2%)	61 (13.6%)	3 (0.7%)	98 (21.8%)	22.6	138^th of 175 public elementary schools	21.1%		29.8	126^th of 173 public elementary schools	27.2%	12	20.5	21.9	27.0				23.0	27.7	16.4	41.9		28.7	33.8		33.8
Aurora Borealis Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	705 Frontage Rd Ste A	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 283-0292	199	12	16.4		156 (78.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.0%)	1 (0.5%)	11 (5.5%)	3 (1.5%)	18 (9.0%)	99.4	1^st of 175 public elementary schools	99.4%		90.7	9^th of 173 public elementary schools	94.8%	8	73.9	72.7		82.4	55.6	85.0	77.4	87.0	86.4			91.1		70.0	81.8
Kaleidoscope School of Arts & Science	Public, Charter	K-5	549 N Forest Dr	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 283-0804	205	15	13.5	38.5%	126 (61.5%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (7.3%)	4 (2.0%)	23 (11.2%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (18.0%)	15.7	153^rd of 175 public elementary schools	12.6%		10	161^st of 173 public elementary schools	6.9%	8	24.3	15.6	14.3				18.3	25.0	31.3	16.7		24.0	22.2		22.2
Nikiski North Star Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	45600 Holt Lamplight Rd	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 776-2600	214	18	12.1	49.1%	143 (66.8%)	1 (0.5%)	9 (4.2%)	2 (0.9%)	17 (7.9%)	1 (0.5%)	41 (19.2%)	45.1	95^th of 175 public elementary schools	45.7%		36.5	113^th of 173 public elementary schools	34.7%	18	39.5	22.9	35.1				32.7	55.3	40.0	35.1		43.6	39.5		39.5

Frequently Asked Questions about Sterling Elementary

What district is Sterling Elementary in?

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Is Sterling Elementary a good school?

Sterling Elementary ranks 100^th of 175 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Sterling Elementary attend?

Students who attend Sterling Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Skyview Middle School

How many students attend Sterling Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 114 students attended Sterling Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Sterling Elementary?

Students at Sterling Elementary are 74% White, 15% Two or more races, 8% American Indian, 4% Hispanic.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Developmenr.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.