- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Sterling, IL
Jefferson Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Jefferson Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 174231004255
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 10
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jefferson Elem School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Illinois schools.
- #5 of 6
- public schools in Sterling · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.1:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 450
- students enrolled
Jefferson Elem School has class sizes larger than 80% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Elem School ranks #5 of 6 public schools in Sterling, IL.
School address
District: Sterling Cusd 5 · Illinois
NCES ID 174231004255 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+21 students YoY
Jefferson Elem School grew from 401 students in 2022-23 to 422 in 2023-24 (+5.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 28.5 → 27.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+21 students YoY 174231004255 · Sterling, IL Other · SMALL · TRAD
450 enr · 16.1:1 · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Sterling High School (999 students)
Jefferson Elem School grew from 401 students in 2022-23 to 422 in 2023-24 (+5.2%). Teacher FTE lost 28.5 → 27.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Jefferson Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Sterling High
Sterling High School
999 students
- Challand Middl
Challand Middle School
726 students
- This school
Jefferson Elem School
450 students
- Franklin Elem
Franklin Elem School
407 students
- Washington Ele 394
Washington Elem School
394 students
- Lincoln Elem S 277
Lincoln Elem School
277 students
What this shows Jefferson Elem School reports 450 students on the CCD universe file.
How Jefferson Elem School compares
Jefferson Elem School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.1:1 | ▲ 15% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 450 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.1:1
Leaner classes than 37% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
450
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 80% in Illinois - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
14.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$14,348
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $18,196
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 450 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 54.7%
Hispanic or Latino 36.9%
Two or More 6.0%
African American 2.2%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 54.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.1, Jefferson Elem School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
District finance for Sterling Cusd 5 reports $14,348 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Jefferson Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Challand Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Franklin Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Washington Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Jefferson Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 726
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 407
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 394
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 277
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar other schools in Sterling
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~450 students)
Frequently asked questions about Jefferson Elem School
How many students attend Jefferson Elem School?
Jefferson Elem School has 450 students enrolled. It is a public school in Sterling, IL. CCD year-over-year: 401 (2022-23) → 422 (2023-24), up 21.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Elem School is 16.1:1, which is 15% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jefferson Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Jefferson Elem School is White at 54.7% of enrollment, in Sterling, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jefferson Elem School?
Jefferson Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Jefferson Elem School rank among public schools in Sterling?
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Elem School ranks #5 of 6 public schools in Sterling, 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 Sterling on the city page.
What other schools are in Sterling Cusd 5?
Besides Jefferson Elem School, Sterling Cusd 5 also operates Sterling High School (999 students), Challand Middle School (726 students), and Franklin Elem School (407 students). See the Sterling Cusd 5 district page for the complete list.