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Sterling High School

Q: Is Sterling High School a good school?

Sterling High School ranks 145 th of 620 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

145^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 620 Illinois High Schools

Better than 77% of Illinois high schools

Summary

Sterling High School serves 999 students in grades 9–12 in Sterling, Illinois, and has the largest enrollment among the six nearby schools in this comparison. Its strongest academic results are in grades 9 and 10, especially mathematics: for example, grade 9 math proficiency was 60%, compared with 42% statewide. The most important finding is that SchoolDigger ranks Sterling first among these nearby schools, at the 77th percentile statewide.

Sterling’s PreACT results stand out locally and exceed state results in grades 9 and 10 across math, English language arts and science. Its grade 9 math result was 18 percentage points above the state, and grade 10 math was 7 points above. Grade 11 is more mixed: ACT English language arts and science were above state results, but math was 1 point below the state and lower than the nearby schools with reported results. Graduation is another relative weakness: Sterling’s 86% rate was below the state’s 90% and four nearby schools. Chronic absenteeism was 20%, below the state’s 24% and second-lowest among nearby schools with figures. School test results match those reported for Sterling CUSD 5, whose SchoolDigger ranking is notably lower than the school’s: the district is at the 33rd percentile with 2 stars, compared with the school’s 77th percentile and 4 stars.

Sterling’s SchoolDigger standing has risen from the 47th percentile in 2023–24 to the 77th in 2025–26, a 30-point increase; it rose 6 points in the latest year. The school’s 2024–25 student-teacher ratio was 17.5, the highest among nearby schools with reported figures, and 54% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year. These are context, not explanations for the results. SchoolDigger’s statewide ranking for how well schools serve English Language Learner Students was especially strong: Sterling reached the 97th percentile in 2025–26, up 23 points from the prior year. In contrast, its ranking for how well it serves Special Education Students was at the 38th percentile, down 22 points from 2024–25.

999

Students ?

17.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,748

Per pupil spending ?

54.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

97.1%

Measles protection (all grades) (2025-26)

1608 4th Ave
Sterling, IL 61081-1378

(815) 625-6800

District: Sterling CUSD 5

Feeder schools for Sterling High School:

Elementary:	Franklin Elementary School
	Jefferson Elementary School
	Lincoln Elementary School
	Washington Elementary School
Middle:	Challand Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.7%

Hispanic:

37.1%

Two or more races:

6.2%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare Sterling High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 14th percentile in 2016 → 77th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (55% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of Illinois high schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 63 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school55%

District avg55%

Illinois avg47%

145^th of 620

Illinois public high schools ?

Top 23%▲ up 62 pts since 2016

From bottom 14% (2016) to top 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

491^st of 738Sterling CUSD 5 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
2026	70.3	145 of 620	76.6%	★★★★☆
2025	66.5	199 of 698	71.5%	★★★★☆
2024	43.1	372 of 697	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.2	325 of 699	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.0	375 of 699	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.1	275 of 688	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.2	369 of 701	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.1	406 of 647	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.1	396 of 642	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	17.2	552 of 643	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	50.0	265 of 614	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	47.9	389 of 670	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	58.0	325 of 670	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	64.4	244 of 665	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	52.5	352 of 655	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	63.0	257 of 643	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	50.3	358 of 632	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	53.0	346 of 624	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	57.1	291 of 612	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	65.0	214 of 596	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	37.6	441 of 590	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	46.7	370 of 592	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2003	59.9	253 of 586	56.8%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	60.4	108 of 491	78.0%	★★★★☆
2024	40.2	186 of 429	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.0	189 of 428	55.8%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	98.9	4 of 150	97.3%	★★★★★
2025	61.4	74 of 284	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	50.5	74 of 217	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.2	130 of 205	36.6%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	66.2	157 of 545	71.2%	★★★★☆
2025	64.8	210 of 685	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.3	418 of 664	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.5	409 of 656	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.7	367 of 658	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.5	360 of 639	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.5	311 of 665	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	37.4	402 of 620	35.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	62.6	73 of 268	72.8%	★★★★☆
2025	58.3	128 of 366	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.2	165 of 336	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.7	177 of 333	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.6	216 of 335	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.7	164 of 317	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.6	209 of 317	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.6	196 of 291	32.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	71.5	106 of 478	77.8%	★★★★☆
2025	64.8	181 of 672	73.1%	★★★★☆
2024	41.1	348 of 639	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.2	401 of 644	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.1	388 of 626	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.9	243 of 611	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.3	316 of 639	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.1	308 of 585	47.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	63.3	165 of 521	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.6	198 of 685	71.1%	★★★★☆
2024	49.7	296 of 668	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.2	247 of 668	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.2	353 of 664	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.2	196 of 653	70.0%	★★★★☆
2019	39.4	415 of 675	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.7	380 of 619	38.6%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	62.4	70 of 211	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	16.9	151 of 182	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.9	137 of 163	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.6	131 of 170	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.4	146 of 165	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	32.6	148 of 238	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.8	212 of 527	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	29.2	301 of 482	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.6	223 of 476	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	36.9	254 of 493	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.0	156 of 453	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.0	110 of 473	76.7%	★★★★☆
2018	41.7	169 of 374	54.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	67.0	132 of 515	74.4%	★★★★☆
2025	60.3	193 of 564	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.3	336 of 554	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.0	263 of 557	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.5	292 of 560	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.8	217 of 553	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.5	247 of 552	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.1	345 of 548	37.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)97th percentile+21 vs school

Disabled (2025)78th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)78th percentile~ school

White (2026)74th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)73rd percentile-4 vs school

Female (2026)71st percentile-5 vs school

Male (2026)68th percentile-8 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)67th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2026)38th percentile-39 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts51%~ state avg

Science50%~ state avg

Mathematics38%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Sterling High 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)				PreACT Secure English Language Arts (2026)		PreACT Secure Mathematics (2026)		PreACT Secure Science (2026)		ACT English Language Arts (2026)	ACT Mathematics (2026)	ACT Science (2026)	ISA Science (2026)	IAR English Language Arts (2026)				IAR Mathematics (2026)				Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2026)
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	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 9th Grade	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 10th Grade	ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Science 11th Grade	ISA Science 8th 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 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	Vaccination: Measles protection (all grades)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sterling High School	Public	9-12	1608 4th Ave	Sterling	61081	Whiteside County	Sterling CUSD 5	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 625-6800	999	57	17.5	54.1%	526 (52.7%)	23 (2.3%)	371 (37.1%)	14 (1.4%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (6.2%)	70.3	145^th of 620 public high schools	76.6%		66.5	199^th of 698 public high schools	71.5%	54	70.2	62.5	60.1	42.9	60.4	57.6	51.0	38.4	50.0										97.1%		$14,748	$1,059	$13,689
Whiteside Area Career Center	Public	11-12	1608 5th Ave	Sterling	61081	Whiteside County	Lee/Ogle/Whiteside ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 626-5810	0	0	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Regional Center for Change	Public	6-12	500 E 5Th St	Rock Falls	61071	Whiteside County	Lee/Ogle/Whiteside ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 564-2032	0	7	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Regional Center For Change ALOP Program	Public	6-12	500 E 5Th St	Rock Falls	61071	Whiteside County	Lee/Ogle/Whiteside ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 564-2032	0	1	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Rock Falls Township High School	Public	9-12	101 12th Ave	Rock Falls	61071	Whiteside County	Rock Falls Township HSD 301	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 625-3886	530	39	13.5	60.4%	391 (73.8%)	9 (1.7%)	98 (18.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.7%)	36.5	411^th of 620 public high schools	33.7%		43.1	409^th of 698 public high schools	41.4%	2	61.8	47.2	38.2	26.4	33.3	40.0	42.2	24.8	33.9										97%		$22,824	$841	$21,983
Dixon High School	Public	9-12	300 Lincoln Statue Dr	Dixon	61021	Lee County	Dixon Unified School District 170	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 453-4966	760	44	17.2	44.2%	624 (82.1%)	19 (2.5%)	42 (5.5%)	8 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (8.7%)	31.9	446^th of 620 public high schools	28.1%		40.2	440^th of 698 public high schools	37.0%	6	46.7	41.2	32.1	23.2	37.5	29.9	47.2	31.9	38.9										98.5%		$17,866	$987	$16,878
Chadwick-Milledgeville Junior/Senior High School	Public	6-12	100 E 8th St	Milledgeville	61051	Carroll County	Chadwick-Milledgeville CUSD 399	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 225-7141	183	19	9.6	43.2%	174 (95.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	58.7	226^th of 620 public high schools	63.5%		61.2	241^st of 698 public high schools	65.5%	15	53.3	68.0	40.0		43.3	56.0				54.2	60.0	77.1	70.8	70.2		42.9		38.1	89.4%		$19,453	$508	$18,945
Polo Community High School	Public	9-12	100 S Union Ave	Polo	61064	Ogle County	Polo CUSD 222	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 946-3314	186	16	11.6	36.6%	163 (87.6%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	57.3	233^rd of 620 public high schools	62.4%		61.3	239^th of 698 public high schools	65.8%	6	56.8	69.7	37.8	48.5	32.4	57.6	45.7												97%		$16,519	$1,052	$15,466
Morrison Alt Learning Program	Public	9-12	300 Academic Dr	Morrison	61270	Whiteside County	Lee/Ogle/Whiteside ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 772-7264	0	0		—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Morrison High School	Public	9-12	643 Genesee Ave	Morrison	61270	Whiteside County	Morrison CUSD 6	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 772-4071	294	22	13.3	34.4%	252 (85.7%)	4 (1.4%)	26 (8.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.7%)	54.1	254^th of 620 public high schools	59.0%		55.7	295^th of 698 public high schools	57.7%	41	68.7	42.0	43.3	29.0	44.8	31.9	62.3	42.6	57.4										98.6%		$14,029	$792	$13,237

Frequently Asked Questions about Sterling High School

What schools feed into Sterling High School?

Sterling High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Franklin Elementary School
Elementary : Jefferson Elementary School
Elementary : Lincoln Elementary School
Elementary : Washington Elementary School
Middle : Challand Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Sterling High School?

Students at Sterling High School are 53% White, 37% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% African American, 1% Asian.

Is Sterling High School a good school?

Sterling High School ranks 145^th of 620 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Sterling High School in?

Sterling CUSD 5

How many students attend Sterling High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 999 students attended Sterling High School.

Rate Sterling High School!

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ILIllinois High School Rankings

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Schools in Sterling, IL

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2025–26 school spending dataNewOct 30, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 30, 2026

2025–26 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresNewOct 30, 2026

2013–14 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

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.