operational schools · 2023–24
School district or education agency · NCES 1742310
Sterling Community Unit School District 5
Sterling, IL
Students3,228
Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.
students in linked records
federal comparable series
per student
Student outcomes
How are students doing?
Four views answer different questions. State test percentages show grade-level expectations; the national research trend shows change over time; graduation and dropout measures describe high-school outcomes.
Are results improving over time?
41stlatest estimated national standing
2019202220232024
1 percentile point lower than 2019.
How many high-school students left during the year?
5.8%of students enrolled in grades 9–12
District5.8%
IL4.0%
U.S.2.6%
Lower is better. This annual rate is not the opposite of the graduation rate because the measures use different students and time periods.
State proficiency standards differ and should not be used for cross-state rankings. Graduation ranges and privacy protections are preserved exactly. The academic trend uses Stanford Education Data Archive estimates and is not a state proficiency percentage.
Graduation · 2022–23
How many students graduated within four years?
Loading the district's official graduation record…
What has changed?
The district’s recent direction
Each card uses its own clearly labeled period. Measures from different sources are never blended.
Lower than the first comparable year.
2019–2024 · Stanford research estimateHigher than the first year. More students were chronically absent.
2020–21–2022–23Student enrollment declined.
2021–22 to 2023–24 · NCESSpending per student increased before adjusting for inflation.
FY 2022 to FY 2023 · NCES F-33Enrollment 2023–24Finance 2022–23Attendance 2022–23State tests 2024–25 where published
Enrollment · 2023–24
Who attends this district?
Pre-K174 students
5.4%Kindergarten–grade 51,340 students
41.5%Grades 6–8716 students
22.2%Grades 9–12998 students
30.9%See enrollment for every grade
Pre-Kindergarten174
Kindergarten215
Grade 1227
Grade 2219
Grade 3217
Grade 4223
Grade 5239
Grade 6234
Grade 7236
Grade 8246
Grade 9257
Grade 10254
Grade 11246
Grade 12241
Students by race and ethnicity
Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.
Early learning · 2023–24
How much public pre-K is reported?
Pre-K students as a share of district enrollment
Final NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2023–24. Enrollment shows children attending district-run public pre-K. It does not show open seats, waitlists, private providers, program hours, eligibility or the cost to families.
Current staffing · 2023–24
How many staff members support students?
See detailed staffing
Pre-K teachers6 FTE
Kindergarten teachers11 FTE
Elementary teachers131.4 FTE
Secondary teachers53.8 FTE
Elementary school counselors6.8 FTE
Secondary school counselors3.8 FTE
Instructional coordinators1 FTE
District administrators5 FTE
District administrative support182 FTE
School administrative support10 FTE
Other support staff1 FTE
Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.
High-school outcomes · 2023–24
How many students completed school or dropped out?
Regular diplomas among completers
Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–12
Final NCES Common Core of Data completer and dropout files, 2023–24. The dropout rate divides the reported annual grades 9–12 dropout count by complete grades 9–12 enrollment. It is not a cohort graduation rate. The diploma share describes credentials among completers and should not be read as a graduation rate.
Teachers and staff
Teacher workforce
Loading the district’s workforce comparison…
Community context · 2024
How many school-age children live in poverty?
This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.
U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.
District geography · 2024–25
What area does this district cover?
NCES publishes a geographic boundary for traditional school districts. Charter agencies and some special-purpose agencies may not have one.
Loading the official district boundary…
Source: NCES EDGE School District Boundaries, school year 2024–25.
Comparable districts
Districts serving a similar student population
These peers are matched using enrollment and available student population measures. Districts in IL receive geographic preference, but a closer national match may appear when it is more comparable. Open any profile for a full comparison.
Jacksonville School District 117Jacksonville, IL
- Students
- 3,189
- Community poverty
- 14.7%
- English learners
- 1.9%
- Special education
- 19.1%
- Students
- 3,177
- Community poverty
- 14.5%
- English learners
- 1.5%
- Special education
- 21.2%
- Students
- 3,256
- Community poverty
- 4.2%
- English learners
- 0.9%
- Special education
- 16.1%
- Students
- 3,260
- Community poverty
- 3.5%
- English learners
- 1.1%
- Special education
- 15.1%
- Students
- 3,285
- Community poverty
- 2.3%
- English learners
- 4.1%
- Special education
- 17.0%
District, state and country
How does this district compare?
State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.
MeasureDistrictILUnited States
Academic standing2024
41st percentile45th percentile44th percentileThis district is 4 percentile points lower than the state figure and 3 percentile points lower than the U.S. figure.
Students chronically absent2022–23
20.3%29.7%27.8%This district is 9.4 percentage points lower than the state figure and 7.5 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Revenue per studentFY 2023
$19,861$24,555$19,509This district is $4,694 per student lower than the state figure and $352 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Spending per studentFY 2023
$14,348$19,786$15,859This district is $5,438 per student lower than the state figure and $1,511 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Capital outlay per studentFY 2023
$2,946$2,299$1,964This district is $647 per student higher than the state figure and $982 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Equipment spending per studentFY 2023
$250$423$336This district is $173 per student lower than the state figure and $86 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Special-education spending per studentFY 2023
$0$0$1,793This district is about the same as the state figure and $1,793 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Salaries per studentFY 2023
$6,051$9,771$8,742This district is $3,720 per student lower than the state figure and $2,691 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Benefits per studentFY 2023
$4,845$6,225$3,769This district is $1,380 per student lower than the state figure and $1,076 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023
$9,436$12,594$11,715This district is $3,158 per student lower than the state figure and $2,279 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Debt retired per studentFY 2023
$404$955$869This district is $551 per student lower than the state figure and $465 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Students per teacher2023–24
16:114:115:1This district is 2.0 students per teacher higher than the state figure and 1.0 students per teacher higher than the U.S. figure.
Students per counselor2023–24
307:1493:1376:1This district is 186 students per counselor lower than the state figure and 69 students per counselor lower than the U.S. figure.
District staff per 1,000 students2023–24
167.4145.9138.9This district is 21.5 staff per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 28.5 staff per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.
Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24
30.621.618.5This district is 9.0 aides per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 12.1 aides per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.
School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24
0.31.10.9This district is 0.8 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 0.6 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.
Regular diplomas among completers2023–24
98.7%99.8%99.0%This district is 1.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.3 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–122023–24
5.8%4.0%2.6%This district is 1.8 percentage points higher than the state figure and 3.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Pre-K students as a share of enrollment2023–24
5.4%4.3%2.9%This district is 1.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 2.5 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schools
5.9%14.7%12.0%This district is 8.8 percentage points lower than the state figure and 6.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schools
16.9%14.3%14.0%This district is 2.6 percentage points higher than the state figure and 2.9 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · reporting schools
0.5%4.3%3.9%This district is 3.8 percentage points lower than the state figure and 3.4 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schools
48.3%97.8%95.8%This district is 49.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 47.5 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24
-1.6%-1.2%+0.5%This district is 0.4 percentage points lower than the state figure and 2.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals2021–22 · valid district records
46.9%46.1%50.6%This district is 0.8 percentage points higher than the state figure and 3.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students without disabilities2021–22 · matched enrollment
1.5%3.3%4.5%This district is 1.8 percentage points lower than the state figure and 3.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollment
3.9%7.0%9.0%This district is 3.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 5.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · matched enrollment
0.0%3.6%6.7%This district is 3.6 percentage points lower than the state figure and 6.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimate
13.3%13.2%14.4%This district is 0.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 1.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot
How many students may need specialized support?
Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.
5.9%Students learning English178 students · 6 of 6 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
16.9%Students receiving IDEA special-education services510 students · 6 of 6 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
0.5%Students with Section 504 plans16 students · 6 of 6 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
1.1%English learners also receiving IDEA services34 students · 6 of 6 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.
Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22
What did the district report about teachers and preschool?
Teacher certification comparison
U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.
District makeup
What kinds of schools are in the district?
School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.
District finances
How is the district funded, and how does it spend?
Sources of funds
Where the money comes from
Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.
Uses of funds
Where the money goes
Annual spending for each enrolled student.
Revenue by source: percentages and dollars
How operating money was used
People costs
Equipment, buildings and debt
Selected federal program revenue
What changed since FY 2022
FY 2022$13,182
→FY 2023$14,348+8.8% year over year
FY 2022$1,145
→FY 2023$2,946+157.3% year over year
FY 2022$9,796
→FY 2023$9,436-3.7% year over year
Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.
Attendance
How has chronic absence changed?
572 of 3,169 students
537 of 3,123 students
629 of 3,097 students
Specialized support and security · 2021–22
What specialized roles were reported?
Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.
Learning opportunities
What do district schools offer?
Algebra I1 reporting schools
100%
Calculus1 reporting schools
100%
Biology1 reporting schools
100%
Chemistry1 reporting schools
100%
Physics1 reporting schools
100%
Computer science1 reporting schools
100%
Advanced Placement1 reporting schools
100%
Dual enrollment1 reporting schools
100%
Gifted programs6 reporting schools
0%
International Baccalaureate1 reporting schools
0%
Athletics1 reporting schools
100%
Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.
Safety and discipline
What was reported across district schools?
58Out-of-school suspensions6 reporting schoolsSee schools →1In-school suspensions6 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Law-enforcement referrals6 reporting schoolsSee schools →0School-related arrests6 reporting schoolsSee schools →54Physical restraint2 reporting schoolsSee schools →
Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.
Technology and safety · 2021–22
What access and incident data is available?
Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.
Six questions parents ask
What the available data says
Each answer shows its reporting year and opens a deeper comparison. Missing and suppressed results are never shown as zero.
Are students making academic progress?4 years of resultsLatest research estimate: 2024Explore and compare →Are students missing too much school?20.3% chronically absent2022–23 · 3,097 students measuredExplore and compare →Is the district improving?Declined overallCompare the earliest and latest available yearsExplore and compare →Where are student-group gaps largest?No comparable group resultSuppressed or unavailableExplore and compare →How much does the district spend?$14,348current spending per studentExplore and compare →Does the district have enough support staff?307:1 counselor ratioStudents per counselor in the 2023–24 federal staffing fileExplore and compare →
8 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Four-year graduation rates use 2022–23 EDFacts. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.
See all sources →