C+
Sterling Community Unit District 5
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 7 towns
Serves Sterling Township, Sterling, Palmyra Township, Hopkins Township, Jordan Township, Genesee Township and Coleta, and parts of Lyndon Township.
Students
3,253
Schools
6
Spent per student
$15,512
IL $21,567
Students per teacher
15:1
Free or reduced lunch
61%
Debt
$34.0M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Sterling Community Unit District 5
- School Grade C+: better than 38% of Illinois districts
- Math proficiency 8 pts below the state
- Reading / language arts 9 pts below the state
- Spends 28% less per student than the IL average
- 15 students per teacher
- Debt of $34.0M, about $10,446 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Tompkins Township.
PK–32 elementary schoolsUnited Community School District 304
7–12United Jr./Sr. High SchoolUnited Community School District 304
Test scores vs. IL
2020–21Math proficiency18%
State average 25.8%
Reading / language arts22%
State average 30.7%
Graduation rate (4-year)87%
State average 87.3%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$15,512 per student · 28% below IL
Spending
Classroom instruction 63%Support & administration 34%Other 3%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 37%State 55%Federal 8%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
3,263’20
3,279’21
3,264’22
3,228’23
3,253’24
About steady.
Students
White 55%Hispanic 35%Two or more races 6%Black 2%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%
Schools in the district
6 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
Rock Falls Township High School District 301Coloma Township, Hume Township, Nelson Township
$21,141per student
East Coloma-Nelson Consolidated Elementary School District 20Coloma Township, Nelson Township, Rock Falls
$20,268per student
Rock Falls Elementary School District 13Coloma Township, Rock Falls
$17,302per student
Morrison Community Unit School District 6Clyde Township, Mount Pleasant Township
$14,230per student
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.