Enrollment
941
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Cicero, IL
J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr
Federal NCES profile for J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 172688005044
👥 S:T ratio 37
📚 AP courses 10
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 53
📋 Attendance 7
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Illinois schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #7 of 17
- public schools in Cicero · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.8:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 941
- students enrolled
J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr has class sizes larger than 79% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr ranks #7 of 17 public schools in Cicero, IL.
School address
District: J S Morton Hsd 201 · Illinois
NCES ID 172688005044 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
73.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
+13% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr
J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr is a large high school in Cicero, Illinois, enrolling 941 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Illinois, bigger than 92% of state schools at 941 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (97% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 6/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 2 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 235 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 37.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 11 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Cicero's high schools, it stands alongside J Sterling Morton East High Sch (3,394 students): J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.8:1 vs 20.4:1).
J S Morton Hsd 201 also operates J Sterling Morton East High Sch (3,394 students) and J Sterling Morton West High Sch (3,374 students) alongside J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr compares
J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 13% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 941 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
941
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 79% in Illinois - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
37.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,296
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $17,042
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 235 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 94 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 11 expulsions.
Overview
Enrollment 941 Top 8% in Illinois - larger than 92% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 73.0
Students per teacher 15.8:1 +13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 172688005044
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 96.8%
African American 2.0%
White 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Two or More 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 96.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 6.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 6.3, J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr is less mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
AP courses offered 2
Counselors (FTE) 4.0
Students per counselor 235:1
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 37.4%
In-school suspensions 12
Out-of-school suspensions 94
Expulsions 11
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for J S Morton Hsd 201, which includes J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr.
$17,296
Per student
+1%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
+4%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.0%
State 52.6%
Federal 10.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Sterling Morton East High Sch | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| J Sterling Morton West High Sch | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,394
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 3,374
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar high schools in Cicero
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr's federal record.
- Compare J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr against another school. Compare schools
- J S Morton Hsd 201's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr
How many students attend J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr?
J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr has 941 students enrolled. It is a high school in Cicero, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr?
The student-teacher ratio at J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr is 15.8:1, which is 13% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr?
The largest demographic group at J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr is Hispanic or Latino at 96.8% of enrollment, in Cicero, IL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr?
J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr rank among public schools in Cicero?
By Resource Investment Index, J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr ranks #7 of 17 public schools in Cicero, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Cicero on the city page.
Is J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr a good school?
J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Illinois schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in J S Morton Hsd 201?
Besides J Sterling Morton Freshman Cntr, J S Morton Hsd 201 also operates J Sterling Morton East High Sch (3,394 students) and J Sterling Morton West High Sch (3,374 students). See the J S Morton Hsd 201 district page for the complete list.