Private School Review - Established 2003

Sterling Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 3 private schools serving 441 students in Sterling, IL, 12% of all K-12 students in Sterling, IL are educated in private schools versus public schools (compared to the IL state average of 12%).
The average acceptance rate is 100%, which is higher than the Illinois private school average acceptance rate of 85%.
100% of private schools in Sterling, IL are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Lutheran Church Missouri Synod).

Quick Facts (2026)

Quick Facts (2026)

Top Ranked Sterling Private Schools (2026)

Map of Newman Central Catholic High School
Newman Central Catholic High School
Gr: 9-12 | 203 students
Avg. class size: 28 students
Sports: 14 | Extracurriculars: 4
Catholic
1101 W 23rd St
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-0500
(1)
View Profile
Christ Lutheran School Photo
Christ Lutheran School
Gr: PK-8 | 50 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
2000 18th Ave
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-3800
(1)
View Profile
Map of St. Mary Grade School
St. Mary Grade School
Gr: PK-8 | 188 students
Catholic
6 W 6th St
Sterling, IL 61081
(815) 625-2253
View Profile

Sterling, IL Private School Trends (10-Year)

3
Private Schools
441
Students
-28.3% (-174 students) 10-yr
$3,980
Avg. Tuition
+26.1% (+$824) 10-yr
19
Avg. Class Size
+11.8% (+2 students) 10-yr
19%
Students of Color
+35.7% (+5.0 pp) 10-yr
13:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
-7.1% (-1.0) 10-yr
Download town snapshot: CSV | XML | JSON Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission.
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This Town (Sterling)
This State (IL)
# Schools
3 Schools
1,624 Schools
# Students
441 Students
251,350 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
2025147166179
2024147162172
2023143171174
2022148178185
2021167174180
2020174168171
2019193174175
2018193171172
2017205177180
2016205175178
2015205168167
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Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% Students of Color
19%
34%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202519%34%34%
202419%34%34%
202316%34%33%
202213%34%33%
202114%34%32%
202013%35%32%
201916%33%31%
201816%33%31%
201714%34%32%
201614%34%32%
201514%35%32%
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0.48
0.66

Diversity Score Trends

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
20250.480.660.65
20240.480.660.65
20230.440.660.65
20220.450.650.64
20210.460.650.64
20200.460.660.64
20190.420.650.63
20180.420.650.63
20170.420.620.61
20160.420.620.61
20150.420.630.61
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▼ Show more data/charts: racial breakdown
# American Indian Students
1 Student
605 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
11 Students
10,480 Students
% Asian Students
2%
4%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
20252%5%5%
20242%5%5%
20232%5%5%
20221%4%4%
20211%5%4%
20201%4%4%
20192%4%4%
20182%5%4%
20171%4%4%
20161%3%4%
20151%4%4%
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# Hispanic Students
57 Students
25,032 Students
% Hispanic Students
12%
10%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202512%10%9%
202412%10%9%
202310%10%9%
202213%10%8%
202113%10%9%
202013%10%9%
20199%9%8%
20189%9%8%
20176%9%8%
20166%9%8%
20156%9%8%
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# Black Students
13 Students
21,046 Students
% Black Students
3%
9%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
20253%8%7%
20243%8%7%
20232%8%8%
20222%8%7%
20212%8%7%
20202%9%8%
20191%9%7%
20181%9%7%
20171%9%7%
20161%9%7%
20151%9%8%
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# White Students
335 Students
128,862 Students
% White Students
70%
51%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202570%51%52%
202470%51%52%
202374%51%52%
202273%53%54%
202171%52%54%
202071%52%54%
201975%53%56%
201875%53%56%
201774%56%58%
201674%56%58%
201574%55%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
n/a
338 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
61 Students
65,479 Students
% of Others Students
13%
26%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202513%26%26%
202413%26%26%
202312%26%25%
202211%25%25%
202113%25%25%
202013%25%24%
201911%25%24%
201811%24%23%
201716%22%22%
201616%23%22%
201516%23%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Academics
# Teachers
34 Teachers
18,872 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202513:113:111:1
202413:113:111:1
202312:113:111:1
202212:113:111:1
202113:113:111:1
202013:113:112:1
201914:113:112:1
201814:114:112:1
201714:114:112:1
201614:114:112:1
201514:114:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
90%
53%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202590%53%55%
202490%52%54%
202390%50%54%
202290%51%54%
202190%50%54%
202050%50%54%
201950%50%53%
201850%49%53%
201750%48%53%
201650%49%52%
201550%50%52%
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Average Class Size
19 students
16 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
2025191615
2024191715
2023191715
2022191715
2021191715
2020151715
2019151715
2018151715
2017171715
2016171715
2015171715
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Average Number of AP Courses
5 courses
11 courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202551113
20245912
20235911
20225911
20215911
20205911
20195811
20185811
20175810
20165910
20155910
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Average ACT score
23
(Out of 36)
25

ACT Score Trends (2015-2025)

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
2025232526
2024232526
2023232526
2022232526
2021232526
2020232525
2019232525
2018232525
2017232525
2016232425
2015232425
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Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$3,980
$12,457

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
2025$3,980$12,671$15,012
2024$3,725$9,594$13,254
2023$4,513$8,924$12,626
2022$4,513$8,609$12,187
2021$4,025$8,334$11,800
2020$3,600$8,312$11,512
2019$3,600$8,068$11,293
2018$3,600$7,898$11,017
2017$3,156$7,863$10,708
2016$3,156$7,289$10,356
2015$3,156$7,003$9,939
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Average Summer Program Cost
$1,500
$961

Summer Program Cost Trends (2024-2025)

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
2025$1,500$943$1,152
2024$1,500$947$1,128
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Average % on Financial Aid
35%
34%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202535%34%34%
202435%33%34%
202335%33%34%
202235%32%33%
202135%31%33%
202035%32%32%
201935%31%31%
201835%30%30%
201735%29%30%
201635%29%29%
201535%28%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$850
$4,422

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
2025$850$3,868$7,073
2024$850$3,415$6,930
2023$850$2,426$6,469
2022$850$2,492$6,289
2021$850$2,514$6,055
2020$850$2,509$5,921
2019$850$2,541$5,795
2018$850$2,466$5,456
2017$850$2,525$5,319
2016$850$2,614$5,105
2015$850$2,666$5,030
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Admissions & Athletics
Average Acceptance Rate
100%
85%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearSterling, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
2025100%84%81%
2024100%90%85%
2023100%91%85%
2022100%91%85%
2021100%91%85%
2020100%91%85%
2019100%90%85%
2018100%90%85%
2017100%90%85%
2016100%92%85%
2015100%92%85%
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Average Number of Extracurriculars
4 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
14 sports
6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Sterling, IL?
The top ranked private schools in Sterling, IL is Newman Central Catholic High School.
How many private schools are located in Sterling?
3 private schools are located in Sterling.
What percentage of students in Sterling go to private school?
12% of all K-12 students in Sterling are educated in private schools (compared to the IL state average of 12%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Sterling?
100% of private schools in Sterling are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Lutheran Church Missouri Synod).
Which private schools in Sterling are often viewed compared to one another?

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