Enrollment
64
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mount Sterling, KY
The Sterling School
Federal NCES profile for The Sterling School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 210425002317
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 22
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
The Sterling School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Kentucky schools.
- #2 of 6
- schools in Mount Sterling · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.3:1
- large classes for Kentucky
- 78.7%
- free-lunch eligible
The Sterling School has class sizes larger than 95% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, The Sterling School ranks #2 of 6 schools in Mount Sterling, KY.
School address
District: Montgomery County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210425002317 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
3.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.3:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
+40% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
78.7%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+33% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How The Sterling School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at The Sterling School
The Sterling School is a high-poverty, small combined-grade school in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, enrolling 64 students.
Class loads run heavy: 21.3:1 is larger than about 95% of Kentucky schools and 40% above the 15.2:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 78.7% of students qualify for free meals, 33% above the Kentucky average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 64 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Among 35 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #26, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (92% of enrollment) (diversity index 15/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 22.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Mount Sterling's public schools, it stands alongside Camargo Elementary School (597 students): The Sterling School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (21.3:1 vs 15.3:1).
Montgomery County also operates Montgomery County High School (1,345 students) and Mcnabb Middle School (928 students) alongside The Sterling School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How The Sterling School compares
The Sterling School on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.3:1 | ▲ 40% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.7% | ▲ 33% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 64 | top 89% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.3:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
64
Bigger than 7% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
78.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
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
21.3:1
students per teacher
- 40% above state mean
Top 95% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
31.3%
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
$11,489
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kentucky avg of $13,211
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 + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 18.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 92.2%
Hispanic or Latino 6.3%
Two or More 1.6%
Largest group: White at 92.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 14.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 14.6, The Sterling School is less mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Montgomery County, which includes The Sterling School.
$11,489
Per student
-13%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.5%
State 56.2%
Federal 22.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How The Sterling School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mcnabb Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Camargo Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mapleton Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northview Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to The Sterling School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,345
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 928
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 597
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 524
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 503
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar other schools in Mount Sterling
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Camargo Elementary School
Standard public school
597 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Mapleton Elementary School
Standard public school
524 students 15:1 students per teacher
Northview Elementary
Standard public school
503 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Mount Sterling Elementary School
Standard public school
464 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Gateway Children's Services
Alternative education program
17 students 17:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~64 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on The Sterling School's federal record.
- Compare The Sterling School against another school. Compare schools
- Montgomery County's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about The Sterling School
How many students attend The Sterling School?
The Sterling School has 64 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Mount Sterling, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at The Sterling School?
The student-teacher ratio at The Sterling School is 21.3:1, which is 40% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at The Sterling School?
78.7% of students at The Sterling School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of The Sterling School?
The largest demographic group at The Sterling School is White at 92.2% of enrollment, in Mount Sterling, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for The Sterling School?
The Sterling School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does The Sterling School rank among schools in Mount Sterling?
By Resource Investment Index, The Sterling School ranks #2 of 6 schools in Mount Sterling, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Mount Sterling on the city page.
Is The Sterling School a good school?
The Sterling School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Kentucky schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Montgomery County?
Besides The Sterling School, Montgomery County also operates Montgomery County High School (1,345 students), Mcnabb Middle School (928 students), and Camargo Elementary School (597 students). See the Montgomery County district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.