Sterling High School
Sterling, IL · Sterling CUSD 5 · Grades 9 - 12
283rd of 601 Illinois high schools statewide · better than 53%▼ Declining
Sterling High School ranking
SchoolRow ranks Sterling High School 283rd of 601 Illinois high schools for 2024–25, based on Illinois Report Card 2024–25 English and Math results — better than 53% of high schools statewide. Its statewide percentile went from 58th in 2019 to 53th in 2025 — declining.
Sterling High School test scores
Percent meeting or exceeding the state standard, Illinois Report Card 2024–25
Sterling High School students
Racial and ethnic breakdown of 996 students (2023–24, NCES) — and how it has shifted since 2013
| Group | Trend | 2013 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 62.7% | 51.6% | ▼ 11.1 pts | |
| Hispanic | 29.5% | 38.6% | ▲ 9.1 pts | |
| Two or more races | 3.3% | 6.2% | ▲ 2.9 pts | |
| Black | 3.3% | 2.3% | ▼ 1.0 pts | |
| Asian | 0.5% | 1.1% | ▲ 0.6 pts |
Homes near Sterling High School
Typical home value $146K in zip 61081 as of 2026-05 · trend since 2006
Data Provided by Zillow Group
High schools near Sterling High School
Closest same-level schools, with 2024–25 state rank
- 5Rock Falls Township High SchoolRock Falls Twp HSD 301 · 1.8 mi away328th of 601
ELA 50% · Math 31% - 4Dixon High SchoolDixon USD 170 · 10.9 mi away381st of 601
ELA 51% · Math 25% - 8Chadwick-Milledgeville Jr/Sr High SchoolChadwick-Milledgeville CUSD 399 · 12.1 mi away132nd of 601
ELA 69% · Math 45% - 7Polo Comm High SchoolPolo CUSD 222 · 14.1 mi away236th of 601
ELA 62% · Math 33% - 7Morrison High SchoolMorrison CUSD 6 · 14.3 mi away204th of 601
ELA 69% · Math 31% - 5Prophetstown High SchoolProphetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD3 · 15.5 mi away344th of 601
ELA 40% - –Amboy High SchoolAmboy CUSD 272 · 19.3 mi away
- –Ohio Community High SchoolOhio CHSD 505 · 20.7 mi away
Frequently asked questions
What school district is Sterling High School in?
Sterling High School is part of the Sterling CUSD 5 district in Sterling, Illinois.
Is Sterling High School a good school?
SchoolRow ranks Sterling High School 283rd of 601 Illinois high schools (better than 53% statewide) based on 2024–25 test results (Illinois Report Card 2024–25).
What is the racial makeup of Sterling High School?
White 52%, Hispanic 39%, Two or more races 6%, Black 2% (996 students, 2023–24).
How much do homes near Sterling High School cost?
The typical home value in zip code 61081 is $146K as of 2026-05 (Zillow ZHVI).
Sources: state education department data (Illinois Report Card 2024–25, low-income, chronic absenteeism), National Center for Education Statistics via the Urban Institute (enrollment, demographics, staffing), Zillow Group (home values). Rankings are computed by SchoolRow from state English and Math results within grade level; they measure test performance, not everything that makes a school good.