Total enrollment
3,253
-130 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
15 schools in Sterling
Illinois · Public K-12
Sterling's public schools total 15 across the city, with enrollment of about 3,253 and an average school size near 217.
7-year change in Sterling
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
6
-2 (-25%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
55%
was 56%
% Hispanic
35%
was 35%
% Black
2%
was 3%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
14,717
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Students
3,253
public K-12 · NCES
Schools
15
public K-12
| Name | Level | Grades | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bi-County Sp Ed HI HS | Combined | M-M | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed Preschool Program | Combined | M-M | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-HI MS | Combined | M-M | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-Transition Life S | Elementary | M-M | · |
| Bi-County SpEd HS | Elementary | M-M | · |
| Bi-County-3-5 LIfe Skills-Merrill | Elementary | M-M | · |
| Bi-County-K-2 Life Skills-Dillon | Elementary | M-M | · |
| Challand Middle School | Middle | 06-08 | 726 |
| Franklin Elem School | Elementary | PK-02 | 407 |
| Jefferson Elem School | Elementary | PK-02 | 450 |
| Lincoln Elem School | Elementary | 03-05 | 277 |
| ROE 47 Student Support ALOP | Combined | 04-12 | 0 |
| Sterling High School | High | 09-12 | 999 |
| Washington Elem School | Elementary | 03-05 | 394 |
| Whiteside Area Career | High | 11-12 | 0 |
About Sterling
Sterling, Illinois is home to 15 public schools, with combined enrollment of approximately 3,253 students. By school count, it is an average-sized city.
On the school-mix side, the city is made up of 8 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, and 4 other.
Schools in Sterling average about 217 students each, 55% noticeably below the Illinois norm.
Looking at the last 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Sterling has decreased 4% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 3,383 students to 3,253. The school count fell from 8 to 6 across the same 7-year window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Sterling discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.