Sterling Elementary School

Q: Is Sterling Elementary School a good school?

Sterling Elementary School ranks 320 th of 459 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Sterling Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Sterling, Nebraska, serving grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 135 students. The school is part of the Johnson County Central Public Schools district, which is ranked 82 out of 212 districts in Nebraska and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Sterling Elementary School has a significantly higher percentage of white students (91.85%) compared to the surrounding schools, which range from 80% to 95% white students, its academic performance is generally lower than the state average and the nearby schools. For example, in 2022-2023, the school's 3rd-grade ELA proficiency rate was 57%, compared to the state average of 63%. Additionally, Sterling Elementary School has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (40.74%) compared to the surrounding schools, which range from 9.71% to 60.38%. Despite the higher per-student spending of $17,331 in 2022-2023 and a lower student-teacher ratio of 11.1, the school's academic performance is still lagging behind the state average and the nearby schools, such as Norris Elementary School and Norris Intermediate School.

The analysis of Sterling Elementary School's data reveals a concerning trend of declining performance, with the school's statewide ranking dropping from 62 out of 450 Nebraska elementary schools in 2017-2018 (4 stars) to 320 out of 459 in 2022-2023 (2 stars). This suggests that the school's lower academic outcomes compared to the surrounding schools may be influenced by a combination of factors, including the socioeconomic status of the student population and other underlying issues that require further investigation.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

250 Main St
Sterling, NE 68443-0039

(402) 866-4761

District: Sterling Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
320^th of 459 Nebraska Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $17,331

Students who attend Sterling Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Sterling High School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.1

Number of students: 135

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.9%

Hispanic:

7.4%

Two or more races:

0.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 40.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Sterling Elementary School ranks worse than 69.7% of elementary schools in Nebraska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 36.82. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (91.9%), Hispanic (7.4%), two or more races (0.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 40.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sterling Elementary School is 11.1. (See more...)

Compare Sterling Elementary School employs 12 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sterling Elementary School is $17,331.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Sterling Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Sterling Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Sterling Public Schools 82^nd of 212 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Sterling Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Sterling Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2006	38.69	303^rd	418	27.5%
2007	31.63	350^th	430	18.6%
2008	54.09	280^th	478	41.4%
2009	53.42	276^th	471	41.4%
2010	39.16	376^th	502	25.1%
2011	46.36	272^nd	473	42.5%
2012	44.78	296^th	480	38.3%
2013	65.51	142^nd	485	70.7%
2014	77.19	73^rd	483	84.9%
2015	69.48	122^nd	488	75.0%
2016	76.31	91^st	480	81.0%
2017	72.86	119^th	459	74.1%
2018	80.92	62^nd	450	86.2%
2019	45.97	257^th	452	43.1%
2021	54.63	200^th	442	54.8%
2022	33.36	321^st	457	29.8%
2023	36.82	320^th	459	30.3%

See the entire list of Nebraska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for White students at Sterling Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	30.56	293^rd	391	25.1%
2021	40.78	232^nd	368	37.0%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Nebraska Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Sterling Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	122	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	122
1989	120	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	120
1990	116	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	116
1991	112	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	112
1992	99	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	99
1993	102	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	102
1994	116	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	117
1995	109	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	110
1996	109	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	110
1997	114	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	117
1998	112	2	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	115
1999	116	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	117
2000	113	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	114
2001	118	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	120
2002	108	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	111
2003	108	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	111
2004	115	3	1	0	2	n/a	n/a	121
2005	123	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	126
2006	116	1	3	0	1	n/a	n/a	121
2007	119	0	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	121
2008	95	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	98
2009	91	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	94
2010	94	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	96
2011	87	0	1	0	0	0	0	88
2012	96	0	0	1	0	0	0	97
2013	98	0	0	3	0	0	0	101
2014	92	2	0	3	0	0	0	97
2015	110	1	0	5	0	0	0	116
2016	103	0	0	4	0	0	1	108
2017	98	1	0	3	0	0	1	103
2018	105	1	0	5	0	0	0	111
2019	111	2	0	3	0	0	0	116
2020	117	1	0	1	0	0	1	120
2021	126	0	0	5	0	0	0	131
2022	119	0	0	9	0	0	1	129
2023	124	0	0	10	0	0	1	135

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Sterling Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	122	9.0	13.5	26.2
1989	120	9.0	13.3	22.5
1990	116	9.0	12.8	21.6
1991	112	9.0	12.4	17
1992	99	9.0	11.0	14.1
1993	102	9.2	11.1	19.6
1994	117	10.4	11.3	20.5
1995	110	9.9	11.1	17.3
1996	110	9.9	11.1	17.3
1997	117	9.9	11.8	19.7
1998	115	9.9	11.6	20
1999	117	9.9	11.8	28.2
2000	114	9.8	11.6	28.9
2001	120	10.3	11.7	30
2002	111	9.8	11.3	27
2003	111	9.8	11.3	27
2004	121	10.3	11.7	33.9
2005	126	10.0	12.6	27
2006	121	10.0	12.1	21.5
2007	121	10.0	12.1	26.4
2008	98	8.9	11.0	31.6
2009	94	8.0	11.8	27.7
2010	96	9.3	10.3	37.5
2011	88	9.0	9.7	36.4
2012	97	10.0	9.6	37.1
2013	101	8.8	11.3	31.7
2014	97	8.8	10.9	34
2015	116	11.0	10.5	30.2
2016	108	11.0	9.8	28.7
2017	103	10.7	9.5	33
2018	111	11.8	9.3	30.6
2019	116	13.1	8.8	31
2020	120	12.7	9.4	35
2021	131	11.4	11.4	33.6
2022	129	11.0	11.6	28.7
2023	135	12.0	11.1	40.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Sterling Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	122	9.0	13.5	26.2
1989	120	9.0	13.3	22.5
1990	116	9.0	12.8	21.6
1991	112	9.0	12.4	17
1992	99	9.0	11.0	14.1
1993	102	9.2	11.1	19.6
1994	117	10.4	11.3	20.5
1995	110	9.9	11.1	17.3
1996	110	9.9	11.1	17.3
1997	117	9.9	11.8	19.7
1998	115	9.9	11.6	20
1999	117	9.9	11.8	28.2
2000	114	9.8	11.6	28.9
2001	120	10.3	11.7	30
2002	111	9.8	11.3	27
2003	111	9.8	11.3	27
2004	121	10.3	11.7	33.9
2005	126	10.0	12.6	27
2006	121	10.0	12.1	21.5
2007	121	10.0	12.1	26.4
2008	98	8.9	11.0	31.6
2009	94	8.0	11.8	27.7
2010	96	9.3	10.3	37.5
2011	88	9.0	9.7	36.4
2012	97	10.0	9.6	37.1
2013	101	8.8	11.3	31.7
2014	97	8.8	10.9	34
2015	116	11.0	10.5	30.2
2016	108	11.0	9.8	28.7
2017	103	10.7	9.5	33
2018	111	11.8	9.3	30.6
2019	116	13.1	8.8	31
2020	120	12.7	9.4	35
2021	131	11.4	11.4	33.6
2022	129	11.0	11.6	28.7
2023	135	12.0	11.1	40.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Sterling Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,536 (9.7%)	$13,238 (83.6%)	$15,829
2020	$1,527 (7.6%)	$16,824 (84.0%)	$20,040
2021	$1,503 (9.3%)	$13,242 (81.5%)	$16,243
2022	$1,572 (9.4%)	$13,746 (82.2%)	$16,731
2023	$1,702 (9.8%)	$14,201 (81.9%)	$17,331

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sterling Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 257^th of 452 Elementary schools	Ranks 320^th of 459 Elementary schools	12.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Sterling Elementary School)	50	41	9%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Sterling Public Schools)	50	41	9%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	55	50	5%
4th Grade Mathematics (Sterling Elementary School)	58	50	8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Sterling Public Schools)	58	50	8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	51	58	7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Sterling Elementary School)	45	42	3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Sterling Public Schools)	45	42	3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	54	49	5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	116	135	16.4%
African American	2	0	100%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	3	10	233.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	111	124	11.7%
Two or More Races	0	1
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	31%	40.7%	9.7%

Schools Near Sterling Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				NSCAS English Language Arts (2023)			NSCAS Mathematics (2023)				NSCAS Science (2023)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NSCAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 4th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 5th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 6th Grade	NSCAS Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sterling Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	250 Main St	Sterling	68443	Johnson County	Sterling Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 866-4761	135	12	11.1	40.7%	124 (91.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	36.8	320^th of 459 public elementary schools	30.3%		33.4	321^st of 457 public elementary schools	29.8%	1	57.0				50.0		55.0		$17,331	$1,702	$14,201
Johnson County Central El-Tecumseh	Public	PK, KG-3	358 N 6th	Tecumseh	68450	Johnson County	Johnson County Central Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 335-3320	146	15	9.9	54.1%	117 (80.1%)	1 (0.7%)	26 (17.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)								(n/a)	66.0			58.0					$21,897	$1,678	$17,983
Johnson County Central Elementary-Cook	Public	PK, KG-5	407 N 1st St	Cook	68329	Johnson County	Johnson County Central Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 864-4181	79	8	9.9	40.5%	66 (83.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (11.4%)	2 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.5%)	45.8	267^th of 459 public elementary schools	41.8%		52.8	220^th of 457 public elementary schools	51.9%	47		60.0	57.0		44.0	63.0		74.0	$21,398	$1,304	$17,885
Lewiston Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	306 Tiger Ave	Lewiston	68380	Pawnee County	Lewiston Consolidated Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 865-4675	106	12	8.6	60.4%	104 (98.1%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)								(n/a)	38.0			33.0					$25,344	$1,814	$19,025
Norris Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	25211 S 68th St	Firth	68358	Lancaster County	Norris School District 160	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 791-0030	554	33	16.6	11.7%	525 (94.8%)	3 (0.5%)	16 (2.9%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.3%)								(n/a)									$13,975	$1,273	$11,281
Norris Intermediate School	Public	3-5	25211 South 68 Street	Firth	68358	Lancaster County	Norris School District 160	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 791-0040	577	38	15.2	9.7%	534 (92.5%)	3 (0.5%)	24 (4.2%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (1.9%)	77.8	88^th of 459 public elementary schools	80.8%		82.5	62^nd of 457 public elementary schools	86.4%	26	70.0	69.0	76.0	70.0	80.0	79.0		87.0	$10,976	$141	$9,830
Elementary At Bennet	Public	PK, KG-5	50 Dogwood	Bennet	68317	Lancaster County	Palmyra District O R 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 782-3535	400	28	14.4	20.3%	376 (94.0%)	8 (2.0%)	11 (2.8%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	71.2	126^th of 459 public elementary schools	72.5%		69.4	121^st of 457 public elementary schools	73.5%	5	76.0	59.0	75.0	68.0	55.0	79.0		94.0	$13,613	$477	$11,809
Elementary School At Syracuse	Public	PK, KG-3	550 7th St	Syracuse	68446	Otoe County	Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 269-2382	271	18	14.6	15.9%	253 (93.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.2%)								(n/a)	65.0			69.0					$15,493	$853	$12,570

Frequently Asked Questions about Sterling Elementary School

How many students attend Sterling Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 135 students attended Sterling Elementary School.

What district is Sterling Elementary School in?

Sterling Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Sterling Elementary School?

Students at Sterling Elementary School are 92% White, 7% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Sterling Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Sterling Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Sterling High School

Is Sterling Elementary School a good school?

Sterling Elementary School ranks 320^th of 459 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Sterling Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Nebraska Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.