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Sterling Community School

Q: How many students attend Sterling Community School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 301 students attended Sterling Community School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Sterling Community School?

Students at Sterling Community School are 80% White, 10% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

Summary

Sterling Community School is a small PK-8 school in Sterling, CT, serving 301 students and operating as the only school in the Sterling School District. Its 2024-25 statewide ranking places it 313th out of 493 Connecticut elementary schools (37th percentile), putting it in the lower-middle range of schools across the state. About 44% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school maintains a low 9.9 student-teacher ratio with per-student spending of $16,555 — above most nearby districts.

The school's PK-8 grade span is uncommon in the area; only Lisbon Central School and Voluntown Elementary School also serve every grade from preschool through 8th grade, while most neighboring schools cover just a few grades. Test performance varies dramatically by grade and year. Early-grade math is a relative strength — 3rd grade math reached 61.8% proficiency in 2024-25, well above the state rate of 52.2% — and 8th grade math reached 48.1% in 2025-26. But upper-elementary math drops sharply (4th grade: 21.9%; 5th grade: 17.1%), and 8th grade ELA was just 29.4% versus 50.7% statewide. With roughly 30 students per grade, a swing of a few students can shift scores by 10-20 percentage points, so families should interpret year-to-year changes with caution.

Attendance is a clear bright spot: chronic absenteeism fell from 18.6% to 11.0%, below the state rate of 16.4% and better than nearby schools like Griswold Elementary School and Killingly Memorial School (both 12.8%). Sterling also spends more per student than many higher-ranked neighbors, including Plainfield Memorial School ($14,724) and Killingly Memorial School ($14,873), and its 9.9 student-teacher ratio is among the lowest in the area. That said, subgroup results reveal a significant gender gap — female students ranked at the 5th percentile statewide in 2020-21 while male students ranked near the median. Overall, Sterling is a stable, mid-pack school with improving attendance and real strengths in early math, but inconsistent middle-school performance and the achievement gap for female students are areas to watch.

301

Students ?

9.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,331

Per pupil spending ?

44.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

Not published

Kindergartners with all required vaccines (2025-26)

251 Sterling Rd.
Sterling, CT 06377

(860) 564-2728

District: Sterling School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.7%

Two or more races:

10.0%

Hispanic:

8.0%

See top rated Connecticut public schools

Compare Sterling Community School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 38th percentile in 2013 → 37th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Connecticut average (37% vs 49% meeting standards)

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

!English Language Arts scores 25 pts below the Connecticut average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school37%

District avg37%

Connecticut avg49%

148^th of 258

Connecticut public middle schools ?

Bottom 43%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 39% (2016) to bottom 43% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	32.4	313 of 493	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.2	288 of 497	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.1	353 of 491	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	43.0	288 of 538	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	20.5	407 of 522	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.4	422 of 532	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	30.8	362 of 519	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	40.6	312 of 518	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	36.2	376 of 551	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	50.3	348 of 557	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	50.7	366 of 564	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	53.4	346 of 565	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	52.1	359 of 579	38.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	5.6	434 of 455	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	53.8	204 of 445	54.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	1.0	247 of 248	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.3	309 of 327	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.8	294 of 295	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.0	295 of 296	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	38.1	148 of 258	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.5	135 of 250	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.1	147 of 275	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.4	173 of 259	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.3	164 of 249	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	39.6	142 of 250	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	33.6	151 of 246	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	32.9	188 of 280	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	62.8	138 of 278	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	55.9	157 of 272	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	62.4	139 of 269	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	43.9	182 of 268	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	48.2	111 of 224	50.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	2.7	149 of 153	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	16.9	152 of 175	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	5.2	159 of 166	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	10.2	151 of 168	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Male (2021)54th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2021)5th percentile-42 vs school

White (2025)<1st percentile-36 vs school

Middle school

Male (2021)50th percentile+4 vs school

White (2025)3rd percentile

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics44%-3 vs state

English Language Arts26%-25 vs state

3.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Good school overall- very caring staff. Not happy with new grading system of 1-4 rather than A-F, but wonderful teachers and beautiful building. Close Quote

Schools Near Sterling Community School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NGSS Science (2026)		SBAC English Language Arts (2026)						SBAC Mathematics (2026)						Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSS Science 5th Grade	NGSS Science 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 3rd Grade	SBAC Mathematics 4th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 5th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 7th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 8th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Sterling Community School	Public	PK, KG-8	251 Sterling Rd.	Sterling	06377	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Sterling School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 564-2728	301	30	9.9	44.2%	240 (79.7%)	3 (1.0%)	24 (8.0%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (10.0%)								(n/a)	489.0	805.0	2415.0	2476.0	2457.0	25.8	2562.0	2582.0	2444.0	2485.0	2436.0	2462.0	39.1	48.1			$22,331
Moosup Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	35 Church St.	Moosup	06354	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Plainfield School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 564-6430	252	21	11.8	59.5%	209 (82.9%)	9 (3.6%)	19 (7.5%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.2%)								(n/a)			30.2						2427.0						97.9%	0%	$18,923
Shepard Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	234 Shepard Hill Rd.	Plainfield	06374	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Plainfield School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 564-6432	392	30	13.0	60.7%	331 (84.4%)	12 (3.1%)	33 (8.4%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.8%)								(n/a)			15.7						25.3						96.4%	1.8%	$17,919
Plainfield Memorial School	Public	4-5	95 Canterbury Rd.	Plainfield	06374	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Plainfield School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 564-6440	291	25	11.8	61.5%	242 (83.2%)	9 (3.1%)	21 (7.2%)	3 (1.0%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (4.5%)	37.7	302^nd of 492 public elementary schools	38.6%		48	255^th of 493 public elementary schools	48.3%	47	55.0			37.8	45.0					45.6	40.4						$18,612
Brooklyn Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	119 Gorman Rd.	Brooklyn	06234	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Brooklyn School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 774-7577	469	40	11.7	43.5%	369 (78.7%)	10 (2.1%)	55 (11.7%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (5.8%)	38.5	295^th of 492 public elementary schools	40.0%		50.4	250^th of 493 public elementary schools	49.3%	45			42.1	35.7					56.6	47.6					98.2%	0%	$18,628
Canterbury Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	67 Kitt Rd.	Canterbury	06331	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Canterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 546-6744	295	23	12.8	34.9%	248 (84.1%)	3 (1.0%)	35 (11.9%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.7%)	63.2	208^th of 492 public elementary schools	57.7%		53.7	240^th of 493 public elementary schools	51.3%	32			46.5	50.9					74.4	71.7					95.3%	2.3%	$20,074
Killingly Memorial School	Public	2-4	339 Main St.	Danielson	06239	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Killingly School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 779-6680	485	40	12.2	55.5%	368 (75.9%)	6 (1.2%)	67 (13.8%)	11 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (6.8%)	41.5	282^nd of 492 public elementary schools	42.7%		38	290^th of 493 public elementary schools	41.2%	8			41.3	45.6					51.3	51.1							$18,587
Voluntown Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	195 Main Street	Voluntown	06384	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Voluntown School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 376-2325	216	26	8.3	36.6%	189 (87.5%)	1 (0.5%)	12 (5.6%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	8 (3.7%)								(n/a)	502.0	794.0			2495.0	2519.0		2539.0			2504.0	2520.0		24.1			$27,445
Killingly Central School	Public	PK, KG-1	60 Soap St.	Dayville	06241	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Killingly School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 779-6750	317	28	11.3	60.3%	230 (72.6%)	8 (2.5%)	51 (16.1%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (6.9%)								(n/a)															98.5%	0%	$22,084
Griswold Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	303 Slater Ave.	Griswold	06351	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Griswold School District	No	No	No	Yes	(860) 376-7610	655	45	14.7	54.2%	473 (72.2%)	20 (3.1%)	97 (14.8%)	17 (2.6%)	6 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	41 (6.3%)								(n/a)			50.0	2442.0					50.9	2458.0					99.1%	0%	$17,741

Frequently Asked Questions about Sterling Community School

What district is Sterling Community School in?

Sterling School District

How many students attend Sterling Community School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 301 students attended Sterling Community School.

What is the racial makeup of Sterling Community School?

Students at Sterling Community School are 80% White, 10% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic.

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Latest Connecticut data All new data »

2020–21 through 2023–24 attendance data & graduation rates (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2019–20 graduation rates (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

2017–18 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2024–25 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesAug 31, 2026

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

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.