Total enrollment
8,445
-617 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
Whiteside County
Illinois · Public K-12
From the largest high school to the smallest elementary campus, Whiteside County's 50 public schools collectively enroll about 8,445 K-12 students, with Sterling Cusd 5 the heaviest district by enrollment. The level mix is 25 elementary, 6 middle, and 10 high schools.
7-year change in Whiteside County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
28
-4 (-12%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
71%
was 73%
% Hispanic
21%
was 20%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
50
11 districts
Enrollment
8,445
NCES CCD
Median income
$67,500
Below Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.8%
Above Illinois avg
Elementary
25
4,209 students
Middle
6
1,734 students
High
10
2,502 students
Combined / other
9
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Sterling CUSD 5
3,253 students · 11 districts in Whiteside County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Whiteside County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
20.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.4%
civilian labor
Median age
43
22.0% under 18
Test scores in Whiteside County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 16 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- PLT Middle School· 78.9%
- Erie Elem School· 67.2%
- East Coloma - Nelson Elem Sch· 65.5%
- River Bend Middle School· 64.9%
- Erie Middle School· 62.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Prophetstown Elem School· 34.1%
- Challand Middle School· 37.9%
- Merrill Elem School· 43.4%
- Morrison Jr High School· 44.9%
- Washington Elem School· 46.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling High School | Sterling | High | 09-12 | 999 | · |
| Challand Middle School | Sterling | Middle | 06-08 | 726 | · |
| Rock Falls Township High School | Rock Falls | High | 09-12 | 530 | · |
| Jefferson Elem School | Sterling | Elementary | PK-02 | 450 | · |
| Fulton Elem School | Fulton | Elementary | KG-05 | 421 | · |
| Franklin Elem School | Sterling | Elementary | PK-02 | 407 | · |
| Washington Elem School | Sterling | Elementary | 03-05 | 394 | · |
| Morrison High School | Morrison | High | 09-12 | 294 | · |
| Fulton High School | Fulton | High | 09-12 | 284 | · |
| Dillon Elementary School | Rock Falls | Elementary | KG-02 | 278 | · |
| Lincoln Elem School | Sterling | Elementary | 03-05 | 277 | · |
| Northside School | Morrison | Elementary | PK-02 | 264 | · |
| Merrill Elem School | Rock Falls | Elementary | 03-05 | 258 | · |
| Rock Falls Middle School | Rock Falls | Middle | 06-08 | 246 | · |
| Erie Elem School | Erie | Elementary | PK-04 | 242 | · |
| Prophetstown Elem School | Prophetstown | Elementary | PK-03 | 229 | · |
| River Bend Middle School | Fulton | Middle | 06-08 | 228 | · |
| Morrison Jr High School | Morrison | Middle | 06-08 | 215 | · |
| East Coloma - Nelson Elem Sch | Rock Falls | Elementary | PK-08 | 214 | · |
| Montmorency CCSD #145 | Rock Falls | Elementary | KG-08 | 209 | · |
| Prophetstown High School | Prophetstown | High | 09-12 | 205 | · |
| Southside School | Morrison | Elementary | 03-05 | 200 | · |
| Erie High School | Erie | High | 09-12 | 190 | · |
| Erie Middle School | Erie | Middle | 05-08 | 171 | · |
| Tampico Elem School | Tampico | Elementary | PK-05 | 156 | · |
| PLT Middle School | Prophetstown | Middle | 06-08 | 148 | · |
| Riverdale PreSchool Center | Rock Falls | Elementary | PK-PK | 145 | · |
| Early Step Pre-School | Fulton | Elementary | PK-PK | 65 | · |
| Morrison Alt Learning Program | Morrison | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| ROE 47 Student Support ALOP | Sterling | Combined | 04-12 | 0 | · |
| Regional Center For Change ALOP | Rock Falls | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| Regional Center for Change | Rock Falls | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| Thome Ed School | Rock Falls | Combined | KG-12 | 0 | · |
| Whiteside Area Career | Sterling | High | 11-12 | 0 | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed HI HS | Sterling | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed Preschool Program | Sterling | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-3-5 Life Skills-M | Morrison | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-ECSE Montmorency | Rock Falls | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-ECSE Prophetstown | Prophetstown | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-ECSE Tampico | Tampico | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-HI Elem | Rock Falls | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-HI MS | Sterling | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-K-2 Life Skills-M | Morrison | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-Life Skill Jr Hgh | Morrison | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-Life Skills HS-Mo | Morrison | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County Sp Ed-Transition Life S | Sterling | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County SpEd HS | Sterling | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County-3-5 LIfe Skills-Merrill | Sterling | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County-Jr HS LIfe Skills-Rock | Rock Falls | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Bi-County-K-2 Life Skills-Dillon | Sterling | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Whiteside County
About Whiteside County
In Illinois, Whiteside County is a thinly populated county of about 54,947 residents. 50 public schools across the county educates about 8,445 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $67,500 a year, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
On the school-mix side, Whiteside County covers 25 elementary schools (4,209 students), 6 middle schools (1,734), 10 high schools (2,502), and 9 combined or other schools.
Sterling CUSD 5 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,253 students across Whiteside County.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 8,445 students, contracted 7% from the 9,062 reported in SY 2017-18. Whiteside County now counts 28 public schools, down from 32 in SY 2017-18.
On allk12, the community for Whiteside County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Whiteside County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data