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Sterling Middle

Q: Is Sterling Middle a good school?

Sterling Middle ranks in the bottom 6.0% of Virginia middle schools.

Q: How many students attend Sterling Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 967 students attended Sterling Middle.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Sterling Middle?

Students at Sterling Middle are 76% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 8% White, 5% African American, 2% Two or more races.

Q: What high school do graduates of Sterling Middle attend?

Students who attend Sterling Middle usually go on to attend Park View High

Public Grades 6-8

391^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 6% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Sterling Middle is a grades 6–8 school in Sterling, Virginia, serving 967 students as part of Loudoun County Public Schools — one of Virginia's highest-performing districts. However, the school's own results tell a different story. In the most recent SchoolDigger ranking, Sterling Middle ranks 391st out of 416 Virginia middle schools, placing it in the 6th percentile with a 0-star rating. This is not a one-year dip: the school has ranked in the bottom 10% of Virginia middle schools for most of the past decade.

Academic proficiency at Sterling trails district and state averages dramatically. In 6th grade math, just 23.8% of students are proficient versus 60.1% districtwide; in 6th grade reading, 47.1% are proficient versus 82.4% districtwide. The gap with nearby schools is even starker — Eagle Ridge Middle, only about 6 miles away, posted 81.3% proficiency in 6th grade math and 90.6% in 6th grade reading. Stone Hill Middle, Trailside Middle, and Farmwell Station Middle also outperform Sterling by 30–50 points in most subjects. Importantly, Sterling is not under-resourced: per-pupil spending is $19,619, the highest among its peers, and the student–teacher ratio of 10.2 is the lowest. The school serves a much higher-need population, with 84.6% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch versus 12.4% at Eagle Ridge, and chronic absenteeism runs at 19.2% versus 14.1% districtwide.

There are meaningful bright spots. Students in advanced math courses perform well — 100% proficiency in 8th grade Geometry, 94.1% in 7th grade Algebra I, and 77.6% in 8th grade Algebra I. African American students at Sterling earn a 4-star SchoolDigger rating with an 85th-percentile ranking, and English learners and students with disabilities have shown notable improvement in recent years. Still, the overall picture is one of persistent academic struggle. The data points to attendance and support for the large population of economically disadvantaged students as the most important levers for improving outcomes at Sterling.

967

Students ?

10.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,040

Per pupil spending ?

84.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

201 W Holly Ave
Sterling, VA 20164

(571) 434-4520

District: Loudoun County Public Schools

Students who attend Sterling Middle usually attend:

High:

Park View High

Feeder schools for Sterling Middle:

Elementary:	Forest Grove Elementary
	Guilford Elementary
	Rolling Ridge Elementary
	Sully Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

76.4%

Asian:

8.5%

White:

7.9%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Sterling Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 19th percentile in 2016 → 6th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (46% vs 69% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school46%

District avg80%

Virginia avg69%

391^st of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 6%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From bottom 19% (2016) to bottom 6% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

18^th of 18Middle Schools in the Loudoun County Public Schools

18^th of 131Loudoun County Public Schools among Virginia 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	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	11.5	391 of 416	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.3	399 of 419	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.6	394 of 417	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.1	380 of 422	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.1	383 of 415	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.6	394 of 419	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.2	406 of 424	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	29.2	332 of 413	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	25.2	346 of 415	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	27.7	330 of 409	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	28.0	330 of 412	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	26.8	324 of 416	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	20.2	365 of 416	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	15.2	394 of 413	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	19.4	379 of 413	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	16.8	391 of 408	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	20.2	359 of 390	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	23.8	357 of 391	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	29.4	338 of 387	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	23.2	353 of 383	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	37.9	257 of 340	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	78.1	44 of 297	85.2%	★★★★☆
2025	62.0	105 of 297	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.8	134 of 298	55.0%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	18.7	121 of 137	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.6	118 of 136	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.0	115 of 128	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.8	111 of 132	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	27.9	209 of 292	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.2	260 of 281	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	25.6	214 of 278	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	29.2	102 of 134	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.5	115 of 135	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.4	120 of 122	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	22.9	91 of 100	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	11.8	382 of 409	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.8	381 of 403	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.7	385 of 407	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.5	378 of 411	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	12.9	264 of 283	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	10.9	262 of 279	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.0	263 of 272	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.3	254 of 275	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	5.2	2 of 2	0.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	18.9	358 of 401	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	12.1	380 of 403	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.2	371 of 402	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	11.3	387 of 410	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.1	388 of 404	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.4	385 of 407	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.5	368 of 409	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	40.7	261 of 400	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	7.5	391 of 400	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.8	348 of 396	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	48.2	211 of 402	47.5%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2026)85th percentile+79 vs school

White (2026)35th percentile+29 vs school

Disabled (2026)28th percentile+22 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)24th percentile+18 vs school

Asian (2026)12th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)11th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)7th percentile~ school

Female (2026)7th percentile~ school

Male (2026)6th percentile~ school

Homeless (2023)<1st percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+3 vs state

Algebra I81%-13 vs state

Civics and Economics60%-15 vs state

English Reading51%-22 vs state

Science48%-17 vs state

Mathematics29%-26 vs state

5.0

4 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★4

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Thursday, September 27, 2018

The students are phenomenal. They are respectful and eager to learn. The teachers and other staff work hard at meeting each student where they are and holding high expectations for student success! Close Quote

by a student
Tuesday, May 15, 2018

very nice school.
it has been growing. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, April 12, 2012

Sterling's Principal, Nerida Gonzales-Sales, has been improving this school for several years. As a parent of two students currently learning at the school, I am happy to say that Mrs. Gonzales-Sales and all of the other teachers I've talked to here have listened attentively and been very responsive to any concerns or insights I've had for the school. I am proud to say that Sterling was just awarded the "Schools to Watch"-- a national commendation recognizing their recent acheivements. They are on the right path. Close Quote

Schools Near Sterling Middle

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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)				SOL Geometry (2026)		SOL Algebra I (2026)			SOL Algebra II (2026)		SOL Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)			SOL Civics and Economics (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/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	SOL Geometry 7th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 6th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra II 7th Grade	SOL Algebra II 8th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sterling Middle	Public	6-8	201 W Holly Ave	Sterling	20164	Loudoun County	Loudoun County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(571) 434-4520	967	94	10.2	84.6%	76 (7.9%)	49 (5.1%)	739 (76.4%)	82 (8.5%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.5%)	15 (1.6%)	11.5	391^st of 416 public middle schools	6.0%		9.3	399^th of 419 public middle schools	4.8%	8		100.0		94.1	77.6		≥ 50%	23.8	34.4	28.1	47.8	47.1	55.1	51.9	60.1	$20,040	$606	$19,434
Herndon Middle	Public, Magnet	7-8	901 Locust St	Herndon	20170	Fairfax County	Fairfax County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(703) 904-4800	895	90	9.9	65.1%	231 (25.8%)	54 (6.0%)	520 (58.1%)	53 (5.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (4.0%)	25.7	348^th of 416 public middle schools	16.3%		28.8	330^th of 419 public middle schools	21.2%	18		512.0		100.0	80.7				13.3	10.0	59.1		62.0	66.0		$15,978	$824	$15,154
Seneca Ridge Middle	Public	6-8	98 Seneca Ridge Dr	Sterling	20164	Loudoun County	Loudoun County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(571) 434-4420	862	77	11.1	55.7%	282 (32.7%)	48 (5.6%)	360 (41.8%)	128 (14.8%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (4.8%)	43.2	277^th of 416 public middle schools	33.4%		46.1	240^th of 419 public middle schools	42.7%	37		100.0	≥ 50%	100.0	93.2		541.0	51.1	25.4	20.4	70.2	73.3	66.3	70.2	74.8	$21,210	$103	$21,108
River Bend Middle	Public	6-8	46240 Algonkian Pkwy.	Sterling	20165	Loudoun County	Loudoun County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(571) 434-3220	1,137	101	11.2	47.1%	456 (40.1%)	92 (8.1%)	354 (31.1%)	156 (13.7%)	7 (0.6%)	2 (0.2%)	70 (6.2%)	59.3	175^th of 416 public middle schools	57.9%		55.8	199^th of 419 public middle schools	52.5%	24	≥ 50%	100.0	≥ 50%	100.0	95.5		≥ 50%	59.4	54.2	45.9	69.3	74.8	76.1	76.2	84.4	$18,467	$247	$18,220
Farmwell Station Middle	Public	6-8	44281 Gloucester Pkwy	Ashburn	20147	Loudoun County	Loudoun County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(571) 252-2320	981	72	13.5	32.4%	371 (37.8%)	101 (10.3%)	175 (17.8%)	265 (27.0%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (6.7%)	74.4	82^nd of 416 public middle schools	80.3%		78.7	54^th of 419 public middle schools	87.1%	28		98.6	≥ 50%	100.0	98.3		≥ 50%	63.5	64.1	59.0	78.0	85.6	79.5	83.5	88.1	$17,370	$368	$17,001
Carson Middle	Public, Magnet	7-8	13618 McLearen Road	Herndon	20171	Fairfax County	Fairfax County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(703) 925-3600	1,358	120	11.3	20.5%	376 (27.7%)	160 (11.8%)	149 (11.0%)	584 (43.0%)	6 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	81 (6.0%)	78.6	52^nd of 416 public middle schools	87.5%		77.2	66^th of 419 public middle schools	84.2%	14	≥ 50%	100.0		100.0	98.0	≥ 50%	100.0		61.2	51.5	80.9		87.3	86.3		$11,770	$153	$11,617
Hughes Middle	Public, Magnet	7-8	11401 Ridge Heights Rd	Reston	20191	Fairfax County	Fairfax County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(703) 715-3600	1,012	74	13.6	41.4%	404 (39.9%)	140 (13.8%)	310 (30.6%)	71 (7.0%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	84 (8.3%)	65.1	137^th of 416 public middle schools	67.1%		58.9	184^th of 419 public middle schools	56.1%	47	≥ 50%	98.3		100.0	91.6				47.2	27.0	76.5		81.2	84.0		$13,032	$202	$12,830
Eagle Ridge Middle	Public	6-8	42901 Waxpool Rd	Ashburn	20148	Loudoun County	Loudoun County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(571) 252-2140	1,258	88	14.3	12.4%	430 (34.2%)	94 (7.5%)	102 (8.1%)	534 (42.4%)	11 (0.9%)	2 (0.2%)	85 (6.8%)	85.3	19^th of 416 public middle schools	95.4%		87.3	14^th of 419 public middle schools	96.7%	5	≥ 50%	98.8	≥ 50%	100.0	95.2		502.0	81.3	70.0	74.5	85.4	90.6	94.8	90.4	93.7	$15,576	$213	$15,363
Stone Hill Middle	Public	6-8	23415 Evergreen Ridge Drive	Ashburn	20148	Loudoun County	Loudoun County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 957-4420	1,146	78	14.7	19.5%	191 (16.7%)	116 (10.1%)	79 (6.9%)	672 (58.6%)	19 (1.7%)	5 (0.4%)	64 (5.6%)	74.6	81^st of 416 public middle schools	80.5%		76.3	80^th of 419 public middle schools	80.9%	1	≥ 50%	100.0	≥ 50%	100.0	92.5		100.0	61.7	56.0	55.9	79.6	82.2	86.3	86.4	90.3	$16,008	$149	$15,860
Trailside Middle	Public	6-8	20325 Claiborne Parkway	Ashburn	20147	Loudoun County	Loudoun County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(571) 252-2280	1,131	85	13.2	21.7%	553 (48.9%)	72 (6.4%)	163 (14.4%)	266 (23.5%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (6.5%)	82	33^rd of 416 public middle schools	92.1%		85.2	22^nd of 419 public middle schools	94.7%	11	≥ 50%	100.0	≥ 50%	100.0	96.8		535.0	67.4	55.7	65.7	89.8	87.7	87.1	91.6	95.6	$16,469	$154	$16,315

Frequently Asked Questions about Sterling Middle

Is Sterling Middle a good school?

Sterling Middle ranks in the bottom 6.0% of Virginia middle schools.

What district is Sterling Middle in?

Loudoun County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Sterling Middle?

Students at Sterling Middle are 76% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 8% White, 5% African American, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Sterling Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 967 students attended Sterling Middle.

What high school do graduates of Sterling Middle attend?

Students who attend Sterling Middle usually go on to attend Park View High

Rate Sterling Middle!

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Schools in Sterling, VA

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2023–24 school spending data (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 12, 2026

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

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