Summary:
The city of Sterling, Illinois is home to 6 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school, all part of the Sterling CUSD 5 district. While the schools generally perform below the state averages in academic proficiency, a few standout institutions have shown notable progress and achievement.
Sterling High School has seen a significant improvement in its statewide ranking, moving from 372nd out of 697 Illinois high schools in 2023-2024 to 199th out of 698 in 2024-2025. The school also boasts a relatively high 4-year graduation rate of 89.0% and a low dropout rate of 2.4%. Among the elementary schools, Washington Elementary and Lincoln Elementary stand out with the highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics, as well as the highest statewide rankings.
However, the district as a whole faces some challenges, including high rates of chronic absenteeism across all schools, which exceed the state average. Additionally, the schools have a significant population of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 51.61% at Sterling High School to 67.54% at Lincoln Elementary School. The district's spending per student also varies, with the elementary schools generally spending more per student than the high school.
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