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Sterling Middle School

Public Grades 5-8

1331^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 3% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Sterling Middle School is a public middle school located in Peoria, Illinois, serving grades 5-8 with a student population of 350. The school is part of the Peoria School District 150, which is ranked 769 out of 811 school districts in Illinois and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. Unfortunately, Sterling Middle School has consistently ranked in the bottom 10-15% of Illinois middle schools over the past several years, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The school faces significant challenges in terms of academic performance, chronic absenteeism, and equitable outcomes for its diverse student population. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 15.6% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts (ELA), compared to 53.1% statewide and 29% for the Peoria School District. In Mathematics, only 3.6% of students were proficient or better, compared to 38.5% statewide and 18.4% for the district. Additionally, Sterling Middle School has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25.4% to 39.4% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state and district averages.

When comparing Sterling Middle School to other nearby middle schools in the Peoria area, it becomes clear that the school is an outlier in terms of academic performance. For example, Reservoir Gifted School, which is just 3.55 miles away, ranks in the top 1% of Illinois middle schools and has significantly higher proficiency rates in both ELA and Mathematics. Despite the high per-student spending and consistent focus on the school, Sterling Middle School has not shown any meaningful improvement in its academic performance over the past several years.

374

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,068

Per pupil spending ?

88.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2315 N Sterling Ave
Peoria, IL 61604-3124

(309) 672-6557

District: Peoria School District 150

Students who attend Sterling Middle School usually attend:

High:

Peoria High School

Feeder schools for Sterling Middle School:

Elementary:

Dr Maude A Sanders Primary School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

73.8%

Two or more races:

11.2%

White:

8.3%

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Compare Sterling Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 9th percentile in 2015 → 3rd in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (10% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school10%

District avg22%

Illinois avg44%

1,331^st of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 7 pts since 2015

From bottom 9% (2015) to bottom 3% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 6Middle Schools in the Peoria School District 150

769^th of 811Peoria School District 150 among Illinois 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	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	9.0	1331 of 1368	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.8	1321 of 1363	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.9	1324 of 1367	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.0	1268 of 1369	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.9	1156 of 1241	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.5	1229 of 1356	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	22.2	1021 of 1293	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	14.3	1165 of 1293	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	11.9	1228 of 1294	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	14.1	1180 of 1302	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	9.3	1234 of 1322	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	7.6	1299 of 1367	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	5.1	1321 of 1365	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	9.8	1258 of 1344	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	12.2	1199 of 1327	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	9.8	1213 of 1318	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	4.8	1237 of 1293	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	4.9	1231 of 1287	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	12.4	1121 of 1272	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	11.8	1046 of 1209	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	18.8	972 of 1204	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	14.0	1003 of 1185	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	20.4	523 of 574	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.6	505 of 548	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.1	546 of 569	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	29.6	445 of 573	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.5	281 of 385	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.6	487 of 565	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.9	258 of 511	49.5%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	18.0	664 of 694	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.6	595 of 639	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	22.6	626 of 674	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	8.7	1211 of 1248	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.2	1199 of 1251	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.1	1208 of 1275	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.3	1149 of 1286	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.4	951 of 1017	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.7	1174 of 1276	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	25.9	922 of 1226	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	10.3	1207 of 1229	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.4	1176 of 1219	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.6	1191 of 1234	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.2	1164 of 1221	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.5	911 of 1019	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.7	1098 of 1217	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	32.3	812 of 1161	30.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	10.3	1223 of 1271	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.0	1228 of 1264	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.3	1257 of 1292	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.5	1191 of 1286	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.1	1019 of 1048	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.2	1166 of 1296	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.2	1046 of 1223	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2024	10.1	181 of 184	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.3	193 of 194	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.3	133 of 179	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	13.0	795 of 812	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.8	787 of 802	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.7	746 of 805	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	29.7	604 of 781	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.1	394 of 548	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.7	700 of 792	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.2	445 of 602	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2022	5.6	889 of 898	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.8	876 of 905	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	26.0	688 of 889	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2025)9th percentile+6 vs school

Disabled (2025)4th percentile~ school

Male (2025)4th percentile~ school

Female (2025)3rd percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2024)2nd percentile~ school

White (2022)1st percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts16%-37 vs state

Science10%-33 vs state

Mathematics4%-35 vs state

★

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Schools Near Sterling Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISA Science (2025)		IAR English Language Arts (2025)						IAR Mathematics (2025)						% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	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/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	ISA Science 5th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sterling Middle School	Public	5-8	2315 N Sterling Ave	Peoria	61604	Peoria County	Peoria School District 150	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 672-6557	374	25	14.7	88.5%	31 (8.3%)	276 (73.8%)	24 (6.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (11.2%)	9	1331^st of 1368 public middle schools	2.7%		10.8	1321^st of 1363 public middle schools	3.1%	10	6.9	13.8		15.5	11.3	6.7	28.4	15.6		3.9	0.0	2.2	8.0	3.6	96.6	96.9	96.9	96.9	75.9	96.6	96.6	75.0	$17,068	$2,723	$14,345
Pleasant Valley Intermediate School	Public	4-8	3314 W Richwoods Blvd	Peoria	61604	Peoria County	Pleasant Valley School District 62	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 679-0634	166	18	9.2	99.4%	50 (30.1%)	88 (53.0%)	4 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (13.9%)	29.9	936^th of 1368 public middle schools	31.6%		31.5	874^th of 1363 public middle schools	35.9%	62	28.2	20.7	50.0	47.5	27.6	24.1	60.0	42.9	25.0	20.0	27.6	24.1	10.0	21.4	99.5	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	58.0	$23,205	$928	$22,277
Harold B Dawson Middle School	Public	5-8	2708 W Rohmann Ave	West Peoria	61604	Peoria County	Peoria School District 150	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 672-6506	331	21	15.7	92.1%	37 (11.2%)	221 (66.8%)	24 (7.3%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	44 (13.3%)	11.3	1288^th of 1368 public middle schools	5.8%		12.4	1277^th of 1363 public middle schools	6.3%	11	4.3	12.8		12.7	26.0	9.8	34.1	21.1		2.8	2.7	6.0	3.3	3.8	97.7	97.7	97.7	97.7	97.4	97.0	97.7	66.2	$14,398	$1,883	$12,515
Von Steuben Middle School	Public	5-8	801 E Forrest Hill Ave	Peoria	61603	Peoria County	Peoria School District 150	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 672-6561	266	16	16.3	87.6%	36 (13.5%)	161 (60.5%)	22 (8.3%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	43 (16.2%)	13.7	1236^th of 1368 public middle schools	9.6%		11.9	1295^th of 1363 public middle schools	5.0%	59	12.5	17.3		21.7	25.9	23.0	31.2	25.7		3.0	3.7	15.0	1.3	5.4	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	77.2	$16,485	$3,044	$13,442
Mark W Bills Middle School	Public	5-8	6001 N Frostwood Pkwy	Peoria	61615	Peoria County	Peoria School District 150	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 693-4437	258	23	11.4	74.8%	54 (20.9%)	156 (60.5%)	21 (8.1%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (10.1%)	19.3	1130^th of 1368 public middle schools	17.4%		16.1	1198^th of 1363 public middle schools	12.1%	68	29.8	20.7		43.1	33.9	27.9	24.6	32.2		24.6	13.3	20.6	8.5	16.8	95.7	96.8	96.8	96.8	71.2	96.1	97.2	64.4	$17,130	$1,832	$15,298
Norwood Elementary School	Public	5-8	6521 W Farmington Rd	Peoria	61604	Peoria County	Norwood Education Service District 63	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 676-3683	150	12	12.5	56.7%	114 (76.0%)	9 (6.0%)	12 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (10.0%)	36.7	828^th of 1368 public middle schools	39.5%		54.4	534^th of 1363 public middle schools	60.8%	294	40.5	15.2		56.4	54.8	51.4	44.1	51.8		43.6	19.4	35.1	5.9	27.0	97.2	97.2	97.2	97.2	97.2	97.2	97.2	74.7	$23,493	$1,560	$21,934
Reservoir Gifted School	Public	5-8	3706 N Grand Blvd	Peoria	61614	Peoria County	Peoria School District 150	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 672-6563	308	16	18.9	35.1%	167 (54.2%)	51 (16.6%)	37 (12.0%)	8 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (14.6%)	98.9	4^th of 1368 public middle schools	99.7%		99.2	7^th of 1363 public middle schools	99.5%	3	86.6	90.5		98.8	97.6	96.1	100.0	98.0		95.1	88.0	92.2	81.0	89.5	98.3	98.6	98.6	98.6	70.5	98.3	97.9	70.1	$12,148	$740	$11,408
Liberty Leadership Middle School	Public	5-8	6327 N Sheridan Rd	Peoria	61614	Peoria County	Peoria School District 150	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 693-4427	350	27	12.8	64.3%	78 (22.3%)	159 (45.4%)	72 (20.6%)	8 (2.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (8.9%)	29	949^th of 1368 public middle schools	30.6%		43.3	698^th of 1363 public middle schools	48.8%	251	18.7	26.3		41.3	31.2	37.5	41.0	37.5		22.7	15.1	30.3	16.9	21.2	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	73.5	$16,064	$1,695	$14,369
Peoria City Jvnl Det Center 6-8	Public	4-8	223 N Maxwell Rd	Peoria	61604	Peoria County	Norwood Education Service District 63	No	(n/a)	No	No	(309) 634-4200	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Central Junior High School	Public	6-8	601 Taylor St	East Peoria	61611	Tazewell County	East Peoria School District 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(309) 427-5200	434	39	11.0	46.5%	365 (84.1%)	19 (4.4%)	24 (5.5%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.6%)	45.6	685^th of 1368 public middle schools	49.9%		38.2	773^rd of 1363 public middle schools	43.3%	88		47.7			54.9	36.3	47.3	46.4			26.1	29.9	23.5	26.4	97.6	99.5	99.5	99.5	98.8	99.3	99.1	93.8	$20,025	$828	$19,198

Frequently Asked Questions about Sterling Middle School

What district is Sterling Middle School in?

Peoria School District 150

How many students attend Sterling Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 374 students attended Sterling Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Sterling Middle School?

Students at Sterling Middle School are 74% African American, 11% Two or more races, 8% White, 6% Hispanic.

What high school do graduates of Sterling Middle School attend?

Students who attend Sterling Middle School usually go on to attend Peoria High School

Is Sterling Middle School a good school?

Sterling Middle School ranks in the bottom 2.7% of Illinois middle schools.

Rate Sterling Middle School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board 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.