- Enrollment
- 760
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Carleton, MI
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Joseph C Sterling Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 260198003943
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Michigan schools.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Carleton · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.5:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 40.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School has class sizes larger than 76% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph C Sterling Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Carleton, MI.
School address
District: Airport Community Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 260198003943 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+44 students YoY
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School grew from 320 students in 2022-23 to 364 in 2023-24 (+13.8%).
Teacher FTE added 19.5 → 21.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+44 students YoY 260198003943 · Carleton, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
370 enr · 19.5:1 · 40.3% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Airport Senior High School (760 students)
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School grew from 320 students in 2022-23 to 364 in 2023-24 (+13.8%). Teacher FTE added 19.5 → 21.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Airport Senior
Airport Senior High School
760 students
- Wagar 78 Middl
Wagar 78 Middle School
641 students
- This school
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School
370 students
- Loren Eyler El 292
Loren Eyler Elementary School
292 students
- Fred W Ritter 265
Fred W Ritter Elementary School
265 students
- Henry Niederme 242
Henry Niedermeier Elementary School
242 students
What this shows Joseph C Sterling Elementary School reports 370 students on the CCD universe file.
How Joseph C Sterling Elementary School compares
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.5:1 | ▲ 11% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.3% | ▼ 26% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 370 | top 47% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.5:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
370
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
40.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.5:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 76% in Michigan - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
18.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,138
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 91.6%
Hispanic or Latino 4.3%
Two or More 2.4%
African American 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 91.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 15.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 15.8, Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Airport Community Schools reports $13,138 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Joseph C Sterling Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wagar 78 Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Loren Eyler Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fred W Ritter Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Henry Niedermeier Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Joseph C Sterling Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 641
- Students per teacher
- 29.1:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 292
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 265
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 242
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar other schools in Carleton
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 (~370 students)
Frequently asked questions about Joseph C Sterling Elementary School
How many students attend Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School has 370 students enrolled. It is a public school in Carleton, MI. CCD year-over-year: 320 (2022-23) → 364 (2023-24), up 44.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is 19.5:1, which is 11% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
40.3% of students at Joseph C Sterling Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is White at 91.6% of enrollment, in Carleton, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Joseph C Sterling Elementary School rank among public schools in Carleton?
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph C Sterling Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Carleton, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Carleton on the city page.
What other schools are in Airport Community Schools?
Besides Joseph C Sterling Elementary School, Airport Community Schools also operates Airport Senior High School (760 students), Wagar 78 Middle School (641 students), and Loren Eyler Elementary School (292 students). See the Airport Community Schools district page for the complete list.