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Joseph C Sterling Elementary School

Q: Is Joseph C Sterling Elementary School a good school?

Joseph C Sterling Elementary School ranks 581 st of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-4

581^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 61% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Joseph C Sterling Elementary School in Carleton, MI, serves 370 students from Pre-K through 4th grade within the Airport Community Schools district, a moderate-income community where about 46% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Sterling has a strong track record, ranking in the top 20% of Michigan elementary schools for five straight years, though its most recent ranking dipped to the 61st percentile. The school's biggest strength is attendance: its chronic absenteeism rate of 16.0% is the lowest among all comparable schools in the area—10 points below its own district average and nearly 12 points below the state average. This stands in stark contrast to nearby Ethel C Bobcean Elementary School (44.8%) and North Elementary School (28.5%). Sterling also stands out for cost-effectiveness, spending $13,194 per student—less than Loren Eyler Elementary School ($14,814) and Raisinville School ($16,760)—while still achieving better academic outcomes.

Academically, the picture is mixed. Sterling's 4th graders continue to excel, with 50% proficiency in ELA and 51.3% in math—well above district and state averages. However, 3rd-grade scores dropped sharply this year, falling to 35.1% in ELA and 41.6% in math, a decline of over 20 points from the prior year. This drop is most pronounced among low-income students, whose performance fell from the 82nd to the 43rd percentile. Within its district, Sterling remains the top performer, far outpacing Fred W Ritter Elementary School, where 4th-grade math proficiency is just 16.7%. While the recent 3rd-grade decline warrants attention, Sterling's strong attendance, efficient spending, and proven history of success provide a solid foundation for addressing this challenge.

370

Students ?

16.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,194

Per pupil spending ?

45.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

160 Fessner Rd
Carleton, MI 48117-9395

(734) 654-6846

District: Airport Community Schools

Students who attend Joseph C Sterling Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Wagar Junior High School
High:	Airport Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.6%

Hispanic:

4.3%

Two or more races:

2.4%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Joseph C Sterling Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 79th percentile in 2016 → 61st in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Michigan median (61st percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg41%

Michigan avg40%

581^st of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Top 39%▼ down 18 pts since 2016

From top 21% (2016) to top 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 4Elementary Schools in the Airport Community Schools

275^th of 625Airport Community Schools among Michigan 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	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	58.2	581 of 1492	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	76.6	315 of 1488	78.8%	★★★★☆
2024	77.9	284 of 1486	80.9%	★★★★☆
2023	86.4	161 of 1470	89.0%	★★★★☆
2022	87.9	123 of 1344	90.8%	★★★★★
2021	79.8	186 of 1153	83.9%	★★★★☆
2019	53.6	613 of 1408	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.4	657 of 1448	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	44.5	779 of 1466	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	75.0	325 of 1548	79.0%	★★★★☆
2015	74.7	364 of 1580	77.0%	★★★★☆
2014	75.5	332 of 1533	78.3%	★★★★☆
2013	53.7	768 of 1563	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	54.3	747 of 1566	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	57.1	854 of 1552	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	64.8	693 of 1552	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	71.3	463 of 1589	70.9%	★★★★☆
2008	61.5	729 of 1577	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	46.5	1068 of 1565	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	55.8	845 of 1545	45.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	51.2	590 of 1343	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.8	335 of 1338	75.0%	★★★★☆
2024	74.1	263 of 1342	80.4%	★★★★☆
2023	92.0	59 of 1321	95.5%	★★★★★
2022	94.4	25 of 1106	97.7%	★★★★★
2021	78.0	144 of 902	84.0%	★★★★☆
2019	39.9	715 of 1171	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.7	688 of 1443	52.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	41.2	766 of 1352	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	73.5	249 of 1346	81.5%	★★★★☆
2024	59.6	474 of 1381	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	84.1	114 of 1350	91.6%	★★★★★
2022	74.4	172 of 1099	84.3%	★★★★☆
2019	41.8	674 of 1134	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.9	691 of 1397	50.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	56.9	551 of 1372	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	76.7	285 of 1366	79.1%	★★★★☆
2024	75.5	268 of 1347	80.1%	★★★★☆
2023	70.9	333 of 1334	75.0%	★★★★☆
2022	75.7	232 of 1139	79.6%	★★★★☆
2021	74.8	180 of 915	80.3%	★★★★☆
2019	56.0	494 of 1196	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.0	601 of 1446	58.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	44.1	141 of 246	42.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	45.6	638 of 1199	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	65.9	387 of 1206	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	76.0	248 of 1204	79.4%	★★★★☆
2023	78.3	217 of 1198	81.9%	★★★★☆
2022	82.3	149 of 1102	86.5%	★★★★☆
2021	75.3	197 of 1005	80.4%	★★★★☆
2019	39.1	699 of 1128	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.5	702 of 1253	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Male (2026)60th percentile~ school

Female (2026)56th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)47th percentile-14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)43rd percentile-18 vs school

Special Education (2026)43rd percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Math46%+5 vs state

English Language Arts43%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Joseph C Sterling Elementary 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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)	PSAT Mathematics (2026)	M-Step English Language Arts (2026)					M-Step Math (2026)					M-Step Science (2026)		M-Step Social Studies (2026)		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 (2025)	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	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-4	160 Fessner Rd	Carleton	48117	Monroe County	Airport Community Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(734) 654-6846	370	22	16.7	45.9%	339 (91.6%)	5 (1.4%)	16 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.4%)	58.2	581^st of 1492 public elementary schools	61.1%		76.6	315^th of 1488 public elementary schools	78.8%	266			35.1	50.0				41.6	51.3								$13,194	$1,267	$11,926
Loren Eyler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1335 Carleton Rockwood Rd	Carleton	48117	Monroe County	Airport Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(734) 654-2121	292	16	18.2	51.7%	235 (80.5%)	9 (3.1%)	26 (8.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (6.8%)	66.8	458^th of 1492 public elementary schools	69.3%		70.4	405^th of 1488 public elementary schools	72.8%	53			50.9	37.5				56.4	51.8								$14,814	$1,451	$13,363
Henry Niedermeier Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	8400 Newport South Rd	Newport	48166	Monroe County	Airport Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(734) 654-4141	242	15	16.2	58.3%	211 (87.2%)	7 (2.9%)	13 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.5%)	55.7	616^th of 1492 public elementary schools	58.7%		55.7	637^th of 1488 public elementary schools	57.2%	21			33.3	44.2				51.0	44.2								$14,262	$831	$13,431
Fred W Ritter Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	5650 Carleton Rockwood Rd	South Rockwood	48179	Monroe County	Airport Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(734) 379-5335	265	16	16.4	69.4%	228 (86.0%)	4 (1.5%)	19 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.3%)	22.3	1135^th of 1492 public elementary schools	23.9%		32.4	976^th of 1488 public elementary schools	34.4%	159			19.1	29.6				34.0	16.7								$14,626	$1,555	$13,071
North Elementary School	Public	2-5	8281 N Dixie Hwy	Newport	48166	Monroe County	Jefferson Schools (Monroe)	No	No	No	Yes	(734) 322-2451	366	22	16.6	56.3%	316 (86.3%)	3 (0.8%)	21 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.6%)	30.8	991^st of 1492 public elementary schools	33.6%		24.2	1093^rd of 1488 public elementary schools	26.5%	102			46.9	27.2	26.8			40.6	19.6	14.4			32.0		14.4		$14,819	$1,208	$13,611
Alice I Ferguson Early Childhood Center	Public	PK-K	24678 Merriman Rd	New Boston	48164	Wayne County	Huron School District	No	No	No	Yes	(734) 984-1330	180	10	17.4	41.7%	151 (83.9%)	6 (3.3%)	14 (7.8%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.4%)								(n/a)																	$17,756	$1,182	$16,574
Brown Elementary School	Public	1-5	25485 Middlebelt Rd	New Boston	48164	Wayne County	Huron School District	No	No	No	Yes	(734) 782-2716	434	29	14.7	29.7%	368 (84.8%)	12 (2.8%)	32 (7.4%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.1%)	74.8	340^th of 1492 public elementary schools	77.2%		58.1	591^st of 1488 public elementary schools	60.3%	251			47.1	52.9	57.0			58.6	54.0	54.4			50.6		32.9		$16,620	$1,210	$15,410
Raisinville School	Public	PK, KG-4	2300 N Raisinville Rd	Monroe	48162	Monroe County	Monroe Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(734) 265-4800	443	24	18.3	54.4%	365 (82.4%)	29 (6.5%)	9 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (9.0%)	44	795^th of 1492 public elementary schools	46.7%		40	863^rd of 1488 public elementary schools	42.0%	68			32.7	40.6				34.6	39.1								$16,760	$1,535	$15,225
Triumph Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	3000 Vivian Rd	Monroe	48162	Monroe County	Triumph Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(734) 240-2610	777	36	21.5	61.3%	525 (67.6%)	31 (4.0%)	101 (13.0%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	114 (14.7%)	58.9	575^th of 1492 public elementary schools	61.5%		61.5	544^th of 1488 public elementary schools	63.4%	31	63.0	43.8	37.3	52.3	45.1	42.9	52.1	47.0	47.7	28.0	39.0	50.7	39.0	50.7	34.1	57.5	$12,635	$944	$11,691
Huron AI Center FRCS Bobcean Program	Public	PK, KG-2	28300 Evergreen St	Flat Rock	48164	Wayne County	Huron School District	No	No	No	No	(734) 379-6360	0	3	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)																	$64,276	$3,814	$60,462

Frequently Asked Questions about Joseph C Sterling Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Joseph C Sterling Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Joseph C Sterling Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Wagar Junior High School
High : Airport Senior High School

What is the racial makeup of Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?

Students at Joseph C Sterling Elementary School are 92% White, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American.

How many students attend Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 370 students attended Joseph C Sterling Elementary School.

Is Joseph C Sterling Elementary School a good school?

Joseph C Sterling Elementary School ranks 581^st of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Joseph C Sterling Elementary School in?

Airport Community Schools

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

2025–26 M-Step, PSAT & SAT test scoresNewSep 4, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataJan 6, 2026

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