- Enrollment
- 2,166
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Sterling, VA
Sterling Middle
Federal NCES profile for Sterling Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 61/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510225000933
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 61
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sterling Middle earns 61/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of Virginia schools.
- #1 of 3
- middle schools in Sterling · Resource Index
- 61
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.1:1
- small classes for Virginia
- 83.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Sterling Middle has class sizes smaller than 94% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sterling Middle ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Sterling, VA.
School address
District: Loudoun County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510225000933 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-90 students YoY
Sterling Middle shrank from 1,037 students in 2022-23 to 947 in 2023-24 (-8.7%).
Teacher FTE added 96.0 → 99.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-90 students YoY 510225000933 · Sterling, VA Middle · MID · TRAD
967 enr · 10.1:1 · 83.2% lunch · RII 61
Nearest enrollment peer: Independence High (2,166 students)
Sterling Middle shrank from 1,037 students in 2022-23 to 947 in 2023-24 (-8.7%). Teacher FTE added 96.0 → 99.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Sterling Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Independence H
Independence High
2,166 students
- Lightridge Hig
Lightridge High
2,030 students
- Freedom High
Freedom High
1,885 students
- Briar Woods Hi
Briar Woods High
1,862 students
- John Champe Hi
John Champe High
1,851 students
- This school
Sterling Middle
967 students
What this shows Sterling Middle reports 967 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sterling Middle compares
Sterling Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.1:1 | ▼ 27% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 83.2% | ▲ 44% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 967 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.1:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
967
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
83.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.1:1
students per teacher
- 27% below state mean
Top 6% in Virginia - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$19,934
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 193 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
142
in-school suspensions + 29 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 76.4%
Asian 8.5%
White 7.9%
African American 5.1%
Two or More 1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 76.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.0, Sterling Middle is less mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Loudoun County Public Schools reports $19,934 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sterling Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lightridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Freedom High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Briar Woods High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John Champe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sterling Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,030
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,885
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 1,862
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,851
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar middle schools in Sterling
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~967 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Sterling Middle
How many students attend Sterling Middle?
Sterling Middle has 967 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Sterling, VA. CCD year-over-year: 1,037 (2022-23) → 947 (2023-24), down 90.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sterling Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Sterling Middle is 10.1:1, which is 27% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 36% 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 Middle?
83.2% of students at Sterling Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sterling Middle?
The largest demographic group at Sterling Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 76.4% of enrollment, in Sterling, VA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sterling Middle?
Sterling Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 61/100 (higher 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 Middle rank among middle schools in Sterling?
By Resource Investment Index, Sterling Middle ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Sterling, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Sterling on the city page.
What other schools are in Loudoun County Public Schools?
Besides Sterling Middle, Loudoun County Public Schools also operates Independence High (2,166 students), Lightridge High (2,030 students), and Freedom High (1,885 students). See the Loudoun County Public Schools district page for the complete list.