- Enrollment
- 8,641
- Students per teacher
- 28:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Houston, TX
Sterling H S
Federal NCES profile for Sterling H S, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 482364002592
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sterling H S earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median.
- #82 of 102
- high schools in Houston · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13:1
- students per teacher
- 90.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Sterling H S has class sizes near the Texas median. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sterling H S ranks #82 of 102 high schools in Houston, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-80 students YoY
Sterling H S shrank from 1,421 students in 2022-23 to 1,341 in 2023-24 (-5.6%).
Teacher FTE added 88.4 → 104.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-80 students YoY 482364002592 · Houston, TX High · MID · TRAD
1,146 enr · 13:1 · 90.8% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Texas Connections Academy at Houston (8,641 students)
Sterling H S shrank from 1,421 students in 2022-23 to 1,341 in 2023-24 (-5.6%). Teacher FTE added 88.4 → 104.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Sterling H S in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Texas Connecti
Texas Connections Academy at Houston
8,641 students
- Bellaire H S 3,216
Bellaire H S
3,216 students
- Lamar H S 2,968
Lamar H S
2,968 students
- Westside H S 2,729
Westside H S
2,729 students
- Heights H S 2,426
Heights H S
2,426 students
- This school 1,146
Sterling H S
1,146 students
What this shows Sterling H S reports 1,146 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sterling H S compares
Sterling H S is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13:1 | ▼ 12% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 90.8% | ▲ 47% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,146 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
1,146
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
90.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 34% in Texas - lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
81.5%
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
$13,072
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.3 FTE
Per 500 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
54
in-school suspensions + 193 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 55.1%
Hispanic or Latino 41.9%
White 1.2%
Two or More 1.0%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 55.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.1, Sterling H S is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Houston Isd reports $13,072 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sterling H S Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Connections Academy at Houston | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bellaire H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lamar H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westside H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Heights H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sterling H S's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,216
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,968
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,729
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 2,426
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Nationwide high 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 (~1,146 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sterling H S
How many students attend Sterling H S?
Sterling H S has 1,146 students enrolled. It is a high school in Houston, TX. CCD year-over-year: 1,421 (2022-23) → 1,341 (2023-24), down 80.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sterling H S?
The student-teacher ratio at Sterling H S is 13:1, which is 12% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 17% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sterling H S?
90.8% of students at Sterling H S are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sterling H S?
The largest demographic group at Sterling H S is African American at 55.1% of enrollment, in Houston, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sterling H S?
Sterling H S has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower 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 Sterling H S rank among high schools in Houston?
By Resource Investment Index, Sterling H S ranks #82 of 102 high schools in Houston, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Houston on the city page.
What other schools are in Houston Isd?
Besides Sterling H S, Houston Isd also operates Texas Connections Academy at Houston (8,641 students), Bellaire H S (3,216 students), and Lamar H S (2,968 students). See the Houston Isd district page for the complete list.