Sterling High School

Summary:

Sterling High School is a public magnet high school located in Houston, Texas, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,421 students. The school has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 52.01% African American and 46.16% Hispanic.

Despite its diverse student body, Sterling High School consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Texas high schools, with significantly lower academic performance than the state and district averages. The school's proficiency rates on STAAR End-of-Course exams range from just 14% to 53%, compared to the state's 45% to 69% proficiency. Sterling High School also struggles with low graduation rates, ranging from 76% to 84% over the past five years, and high dropout rates between 2.7% and 6.3%. Additionally, over 90% of the school's students come from low-income families, as indicated by their eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch.

When compared to nearby schools within the Houston Independent School District, such as South Early College High School, Jones Futures Academy, and Worthing High School, Sterling High School consistently underperforms academically. These nearby schools, while still serving predominantly minority and economically disadvantaged student populations, have significantly higher proficiency rates, graduation rates, and lower dropout rates. Additionally, Sterling High School's performance in the Gifted and Talented student subgroup is particularly concerning, ranking in the bottom 5% of Texas high schools for this group.


Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

 11625 Martindale Rd
       Houston, TX  77048-2099


(713) 991-0510

District: Houston Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
1667th of 1,987 Texas High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,980 Help


Feeder schools for Sterling High School:

Elementary:    Alcott Elementary
    Brookline Elementary
    Codwell Elementary
    Cornelius Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Hartman Middle
    Thomas Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  12.8 Help
Number of students:  1,341

Racial breakdown:

African American:
51.7%
Hispanic:
46.2%
Two or more races:
0.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  91.1% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Sterling High School ranks worse than 83.9% of high schools in Texas. It also ranks 34th among 45 ranked high schools in the Houston Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.06. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Sterling High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (51.7%), Hispanic (46.2%), two or more races (0.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 91.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sterling High School is 12.8, which is the 11th best among 45 high schools in the Houston Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
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Compare Sterling High School employs 104.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sterling High School is $9,980, which is the 22nd highest among 45 high schools in the Houston Independent School District (Isd).
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Sterling High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Sterling High School 1667th of 1987 Texas public high schools. (See Sterling High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:


Houston Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Houston Independent School District (Isd) 572nd of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Sterling High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 23.20 1255th 1427 12.1%
2005 17.99 1280th 1429 10.4%
2006 14.79 1303rd 1430 8.9%
2007 18.99 1329th 1497 11.2%
2008 28.86 1273rd 1510 15.7%
2009 28.99 1308th 1539 15.0%
2010 34.67 1300th 1568 17.1%
2011 35.79 1373rd 1672 17.9%
2012 11.63 1478th 1603 7.8%
2013 10.31 1530th 1652 7.4%
2014 8.60 1609th 1734 7.2%
2015 7.08 1610th 1743 7.6%
2016 9.50 1610th 1762 8.6%
2017 11.04 1572nd 1777 11.5%
2018 7.87 1644th 1797 8.5%
2019 13.50 1617th 1857 12.9%
2021 13.00 1643rd 1861 11.7%
2022 15.71 1603rd 1876 14.6%
2023 11.69 1726th 1961 12.0%
2024 17.06 1667th 1987 16.1%
See the entire list of Texas High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 6.68 639th 677 5.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.48 1016th 1113 8.7%
2019 23.12 952nd 1136 16.2%
2021 27.64 911th 1195 23.8%
2022 26.14 950th 1278 25.7%
2023 18.54 1182nd 1371 13.8%
2024 29.61 979th 1435 31.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.94 1132nd 1347 16.0%
2019 25.91 1113th 1357 18.0%
2021 28.69 1069th 1382 22.6%
2022 31.05 1014th 1418 28.5%
2023 26.72 1182nd 1478 20.0%
2024 43.14 807th 1547 47.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.78 1674th 1794 6.7%
2019 16.62 1618th 1818 11.0%
2021 17.12 1601st 1848 13.4%
2022 19.16 1558th 1847 15.6%
2023 13.98 1669th 1897 12.0%
2024 20.23 1574th 1883 16.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 5.60 1689th 1781 5.2%
2019 12.66 1610th 1798 10.5%
2021 11.55 1627th 1815 10.4%
2022 13.78 1603rd 1841 12.9%
2023 9.70 1696th 1891 10.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.86 1066th 1137 6.2%
2019 3.86 1122nd 1145 2.0%
2021 3.32 1153rd 1177 2.0%
2022 4.76 1135th 1172 3.2%
2023 1.16 1161st 1182 1.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 15.96 1658th 1784 7.1%
2019 23.72 1532nd 1810 15.4%
2021 20.04 1575th 1829 13.9%
2022 23.96 1491st 1837 18.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.28 1674th 1803 7.2%
2019 13.06 1641st 1824 10.0%
2021 13.45 1636th 1840 11.1%
2022 15.83 1588th 1853 14.3%
2023 12.55 1684th 1913 12.0%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 15.04 896th 1013 11.5%
2019 25.18 777th 1024 24.1%
2021 24.53 781st 1020 23.4%
2022 27.87 728th 1031 29.4%
2023 22.22 839th 1069 21.5%
2024 25.95 763rd 1065 28.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.91 1562nd 1691 7.6%
2019 14.08 1542nd 1714 10.0%
2021 15.27 1528th 1743 12.3%
2022 15.72 1537th 1762 12.8%
2023 13.27 1594th 1820 12.4%
2024 20.48 1487th 1804 17.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Sterling High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 4.22 1467th 1539 4.7%
2019 12.39 1406th 1526 7.9%
2021 1.64 1474th 1510 2.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Texas Education Agency, 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.

Sterling High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Texas Education Agency

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Enrollment information for Sterling High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 100 1708 19 100 n/a n/a n/a 0 1927
1989 94 1521 14 82 0 n/a n/a 0 1711
1990 80 1357 22 93 0 n/a n/a 0 1552
1991 87 1250 26 123 0 n/a n/a 0 1486
1992 82 1196 16 145 0 n/a n/a 0 1439
1993 68 1161 15 155 0 n/a n/a 0 1399
1994 60 1233 18 152 1 n/a n/a 0 1464
1995 38 1177 14 170 0 n/a n/a 0 1399
1996 38 1177 14 170 0 n/a n/a 0 1399
1997 43 1071 20 192 1 n/a n/a 0 1327
1998 35 1094 13 234 1 n/a n/a 0 1377
1999 38 1116 14 270 0 n/a n/a 0 1438
2000 32 1041 14 280 0 n/a n/a 0 1367
2001 34 931 13 296 0 n/a n/a 0 1274
2002 26 858 14 314 0 n/a n/a 0 1212
2003 26 858 14 314 0 n/a n/a 0 1212
2004 22 843 9 302 0 n/a n/a 0 1176
2005 29 793 5 310 0 n/a n/a 0 1137
2006 15 830 2 267 0 n/a n/a 0 1114
2007 15 843 2 257 1 n/a n/a 0 1118
2008 12 836 5 286 2 n/a n/a 0 1141
2009 15 811 2 252 1 n/a n/a 0 1081
2010 6 807 2 269 2 n/a n/a 0 1086
2011 8 789 3 278 7 0 5 0 1090
2012 12 684 4 247 5 0 6 0 958
2013 11 660 2 256 5 1 3 0 938
2014 10 553 2 262 1 1 1 0 830
2015 13 665 3 376 1 1 1 0 1060
2016 13 676 3 442 1 1 2 0 1138
2017 15 610 4 489 1 1 6 0 1126
2018 26 713 6 632 1 0 6 0 1384
2019 25 734 5 713 4 0 8 0 1489
2020 18 722 5 781 1 0 11 0 1538
2021 19 787 8 820 1 0 9 0 1644
2022 20 781 9 793 1 0 7 0 1611
2023 7 739 6 656 2 1 10 0 1421
2024 8 693 6 619 3 1 11 0 1341

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 High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1927 95.0 20.2 n/a
1989 1711 n/a n/a n/a
1990 1552 76.0 20.4 n/a
1991 1486 75.8 19.6 n/a
1992 1439 70.0 20.5 10.3
1993 1399 72.0 19.4 16.3
1994 1464 70.4 20.8 19.3
1995 1399 70.6 19.8 23.9
1996 1399 70.6 19.8 23.9
1997 1327 74.3 17.9 26.5
1998 1377 71.4 19.3 33.1
1999 1438 73.1 19.7 33
2000 1367 74.4 18.4 36.1
2001 1274 66.1 19.3 47.1
2002 1212 62.5 19.4 62
2003 1212 62.5 19.4 62
2004 1176 67.0 17.6 73.9
2005 1137 63.2 18.0 72.9
2006 1114 61.7 18.1 78.6
2007 1118 65.5 17.1 47.1
2008 1141 66.6 17.1 55.2
2009 1081 68.8 15.7 56.2
2010 1086 69.4 15.6 46.2
2011 1090 67.1 16.2 40
2012 958 60.0 15.9 32
2013 938 59.0 15.8 79.2
2014 830 54.0 15.3 76.9
2015 1060 61.0 17.3 64.2
2016 1138 63.0 18.0 68.6
2017 1126 64.6 17.4 75.8
2018 1384 71.4 19.3 80
2019 1489 82.3 18.0 95.7
2020 1538 89.3 17.2 93.4
2021 1644 88.2 18.6 91.8
2022 1611 81.5 19.7 90.1
2023 1421 88.4 16.0 92.2
2024 1341 104.5 12.8 91.1

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 High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1927 95.0 20.2 n/a
1989 1711 n/a n/a n/a
1990 1552 76.0 20.4 n/a
1991 1486 75.8 19.6 n/a
1992 1439 70.0 20.5 10.3
1993 1399 72.0 19.4 16.3
1994 1464 70.4 20.8 19.3
1995 1399 70.6 19.8 23.9
1996 1399 70.6 19.8 23.9
1997 1327 74.3 17.9 26.5
1998 1377 71.4 19.3 33.1
1999 1438 73.1 19.7 33
2000 1367 74.4 18.4 36.1
2001 1274 66.1 19.3 47.1
2002 1212 62.5 19.4 62
2003 1212 62.5 19.4 62
2004 1176 67.0 17.6 73.9
2005 1137 63.2 18.0 72.9
2006 1114 61.7 18.1 78.6
2007 1118 65.5 17.1 47.1
2008 1141 66.6 17.1 55.2
2009 1081 68.8 15.7 56.2
2010 1086 69.4 15.6 46.2
2011 1090 67.1 16.2 40
2012 958 60.0 15.9 32
2013 938 59.0 15.8 79.2
2014 830 54.0 15.3 76.9
2015 1060 61.0 17.3 64.2
2016 1138 63.0 18.0 68.6
2017 1126 64.6 17.4 75.8
2018 1384 71.4 19.3 80
2019 1489 82.3 18.0 95.7
2020 1538 89.3 17.2 93.4
2021 1644 88.2 18.6 91.8
2022 1611 81.5 19.7 90.1
2023 1421 88.4 16.0 92.2
2024 1341 104.5 12.8 91.1

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 High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $2,307 (23.3%) $7,615 (76.7%) $9,922
2020 $2,560 (23.3%) $8,441 (76.7%) $11,001
2021 $1,112 (11.1%) $8,869 (88.9%) $9,980

Data source: Texas Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sterling High 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 1617th of 1857 High schoolsRanks 1726th of 1961 High schools
 0.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Algebra I (Sterling High School)2314
 9%
   End of Course Algebra I (Houston Independent School District (Isd))5034
 16%
   End of Course Algebra I (Texas)6245
 17%
End of Course Biology (Sterling High School)2823
 5%
   End of Course Biology (Houston Independent School District (Isd))5140
 11%
   End of Course Biology (Texas)6357
 6%
End of Course English I Reading (Sterling High School)1527
 12%
   End of Course English I Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))3941
 2%
   End of Course English I Reading (Texas)4954
 5%
End of Course English II Reading (Sterling High School)2524
 1%
   End of Course English II Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))4344
 1%
   End of Course English II Reading (Texas)5156
 5%
End of Course U.S. History (Sterling High School)6051
 9%
   End of Course U.S. History (Houston Independent School District (Isd))6863
 5%
   End of Course U.S. History (Texas)7571
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students14891421
 4.6%
African American734739
 0.7%
American Indian42
 50%
Asian56
 20%
Hispanic713656
 8%
Pacific Islander01
White257
 72%
Two or More Races810
 25%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients95.7%92.2%
 3.5%


Schools Near Sterling High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Sterling High School

Sterling High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Alcott Elementary
Elementary : Brookline Elementary
Elementary : Codwell Elementary
Elementary : Cornelius Elementary
Elementary : Deanda Elementary
Elementary : Frost Elementary
Elementary : Garden Villas Elementary
Elementary : Golfcrest Elementary
Elementary : Gregg Elementary
Elementary : Kelso Elementary
Elementary : Mading Elementary
Elementary : Mitchell Elementary
Elementary : Seguin Elementary
Middle : Hartman Middle
Middle : Thomas Middle

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,341 students attended Sterling High School.

Sterling High School ranks in the bottom 16.1% of Texas high schools.

Students at Sterling High School are 52% African American, 46% Hispanic.


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

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.





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