- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sterling, IL
Lincoln Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Lincoln Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 174231004256
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lincoln Elem School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median.
- #1 of 6
- public schools in Sterling · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.6:1
- students per teacher
- 277
- students enrolled
Lincoln Elem School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lincoln Elem School ranks #1 of 6 public schools in Sterling, IL.
School address
District: Sterling Cusd 5 · Illinois
NCES ID 174231004256 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-45 students YoY
Lincoln Elem School shrank from 350 students in 2022-23 to 305 in 2023-24 (-12.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 22.1 → 21.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-45 students YoY 174231004256 · Sterling, IL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
277 enr · 12.6:1 · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Sterling High School (999 students)
Lincoln Elem School shrank from 350 students in 2022-23 to 305 in 2023-24 (-12.9%). Teacher FTE lost 22.1 → 21.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Lincoln 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
- Jefferson Elem
Jefferson Elem School
450 students
- Franklin Elem
Franklin Elem School
407 students
- Washington Ele 394
Washington Elem School
394 students
- This school 277
Lincoln Elem School
277 students
What this shows Lincoln Elem School reports 277 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lincoln Elem School compares
Lincoln Elem School is a shrinking 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 | 12.6:1 | ▼ 10% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 277 | top 68% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.6:1
Leaner classes than 70% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
277
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
12.6:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 37% in Illinois - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
13.0%
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 277 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. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 57.8%
Hispanic or Latino 31.0%
Two or More 7.9%
African American 2.2%
Asian 1.1%
Largest group: White at 57.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.3, Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Elem School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Franklin Elem School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Washington Elem School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lincoln 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
- 450
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 407
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 394
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Sterling
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~277 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lincoln Elem School
How many students attend Lincoln Elem School?
Lincoln Elem School has 277 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sterling, IL. CCD year-over-year: 350 (2022-23) → 305 (2023-24), down 45.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lincoln Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lincoln Elem School is 12.6:1, which is 10% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 20% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lincoln Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Lincoln Elem School is White at 57.8% of enrollment, in Sterling, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lincoln Elem School?
Lincoln Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Lincoln Elem School rank among public schools in Sterling?
By Resource Investment Index, Lincoln Elem School ranks #1 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 Lincoln Elem School, Sterling Cusd 5 also operates Sterling High School (999 students), Challand Middle School (726 students), and Jefferson Elem School (450 students). See the Sterling Cusd 5 district page for the complete list.