Sterling School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Sterling, Connecticut - 1 schools

An equity score of 42/100 ranks Sterling School District #115 of 174 districts in Connecticut (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $23,080 per pupil, Sterling School District ranks #115 of 191 Connecticut districts by per-pupil spending (Connecticut districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

323
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$23,080
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Sterling School District operates 1 public schools serving 323 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Connecticut. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $23,080 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 191 Connecticut districts by per-pupil spending. See how Connecticut compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 52.7% local, 43.1% state, and 4.2% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 42/100, ranked #115 of 174 in Connecticut against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

and 38.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 79.7% White, 8.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Sterling Community School, enrolling 301 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Sterling Community School accounts for 93.2% of all Sterling School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Sterling School District a distant remainder — means Sterling School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Sterling School District chronic absenteeism rate is 38.5% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

4.2%
Federal
43.1%
State
52.7%
Local

Funding Equity

42
Equity Score
115 / 174
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Sterling School District.

White 79.7%
Hispanic or Latino 8.0%
African American 1.0%
Asian 0.7%
Multiracial 10.0%
Other 0.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

38.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Sterling School District

School Enrollment
Sterling Community School
301

How Sterling School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Connecticut districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Regional School District 01 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Essex School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Elm City Montessori School District Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Salisbury School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Brass City Charter School District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Sterling School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Connecticut

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Bridgeport School District
19,337 students · 36 schools · $20,514/pupil
Compare vs Sterling School District →
New Haven School District
19,150 students · 37 schools · $22,543/pupil
Compare vs Sterling School District →
Waterbury School District
18,701 students · 29 schools · $20,129/pupil
Compare vs Sterling School District →
Hartford School District
16,774 students · 41 schools · $26,329/pupil
Compare vs Sterling School District →
Stamford School District
16,158 students · 21 schools · $25,199/pupil
Compare vs Sterling School District →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Sterling School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Bridgeport School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Sterling School District?

Sterling School District has 1 school, including 1 combined. Total enrollment is 323 students.

How much does Sterling School District spend per student?

Sterling School District spends $23,080 per student. The district has an equity score of 42/100, ranking #115 in Connecticut.

What is the demographic composition of Sterling School District?

Sterling School District students are 79.7% White, 8.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% African American, 0.7% Asian, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Sterling School District?

Sterling School District has an equity score of 42/100, ranking #115 out of 174 districts in Connecticut.