The Sterling School

Summary:

The Sterling School is a small public high school serving grades 6-12 in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, part of the Montgomery County School District. With just 47 students, this school has consistently struggled academically, ranking in the bottom 10-20% of Kentucky high schools.

The Sterling School's academic performance is significantly below the county and state averages. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 10% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in ACT English and Reading, compared to 38-44% at the county and state levels. In Math, 0% of 11th-graders were proficient, compared to 25-30% at the county and state levels. The school's high poverty rates, with 78.72% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, may be a contributing factor to these poor outcomes.

Compared to the nearby Montgomery County High School, which is ranked 90 out of 290 Kentucky high schools, The Sterling School's performance is significantly worse. The Sterling School's ranking has also steadily declined over the past several years, suggesting that the school's academic challenges are not improving. With its small size and high-poverty student population, The Sterling School faces significant hurdles in providing a quality education to its students.

Detail:

Public 6-12

724 Woodford Drive
Mount Sterling, KY 40353

(859) 497-8761

District: Montgomery County

SchoolDigger Rank:
276^th of 290 Kentucky High Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 15.7

Number of students: 59

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.9%

African American:

1.7%

Hispanic:

1.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 88.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details The Sterling School ranks worse than 95.2% of high schools in Kentucky. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 4.97. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at The Sterling School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (94.9%), African American (1.7%), Hispanic (1.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 88.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Montgomery County School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at The Sterling School is 15.7. 1 high schools in the Montgomery County School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare The Sterling School employs 3.7 full-time teachers.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

The Sterling School:

SchoolDigger ranks The Sterling School 276^th of 290 Kentucky public high schools. (See The Sterling School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Montgomery County:

SchoolDigger ranks Montgomery County 82^nd of 159 Kentucky school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for The Sterling School

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Rank History for all students at The Sterling School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2015	6.19	259^th	295	12.2%
2016	3.43	278^th	288	3.5%
2017	4.35	265^th	287	7.7%
2018	7.78	237^th	271	12.5%
2019	13.09	230^th	285	19.3%
2024	4.97	276^th	290	4.8%

See the entire list of Kentucky High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at The Sterling School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	5.14	212^th	226	6.2%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at The Sterling School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	5.10	265^th	274	3.3%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Data source: test scores: Kentucky Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

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Enrollment information for The Sterling School

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Year	White	African American	Hispanic	Two or More Races	Total
2013	53	0	2	0	55
2014	52	1	1	0	54
2015	49	1	1	0	51
2016	40	1	3	0	44
2017	44	1	1	0	46
2018	54	3	2	0	59
2019	45	2	3	0	50
2020	60	3	4	2	69
2021	32	2	1	0	35
2022	34	0	1	0	35
2023	42	0	4	1	47
2024	56	1	1	1	59

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at The Sterling School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	55	5.5	10.0	78.2
2014	54	4.0	13.5	18.5
2015	51	4.0	12.7	68.6
2016	44	4.0	11.0	86.4
2017	46	4.5	10.2	82.6
2018	59	4.5	13.1	71.2
2019	50	4.5	11.1	82
2020	69	5.0	13.8	53.6
2021	35	5.0	7.0	71.4
2022	35	4.0	8.7	65.7
2023	47	3.7	12.5	78.7
2024	59	3.7	15.7	88.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio The Sterling School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	55	5.5	10.0	78.2
2014	54	4.0	13.5	18.5
2015	51	4.0	12.7	68.6
2016	44	4.0	11.0	86.4
2017	46	4.5	10.2	82.6
2018	59	4.5	13.1	71.2
2019	50	4.5	11.1	82
2020	69	5.0	13.8	53.6
2021	35	5.0	7.0	71.4
2022	35	4.0	8.7	65.7
2023	47	3.7	12.5	78.7
2024	59	3.7	15.7	88.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on The Sterling School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	50	47	6%
African American	2	0	100%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	3	4	33.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	45	42	6.7%
Two or More Races	0	1
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	82%	78.7%	3.3%

Schools Near The Sterling School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				KSA Mathematics (2024)	KSA Reading (2024)		KSA Writing (2024)	KSA Social Studies (2024)	KSA Editing and Mechanics (2024)	ACT English (2024)	ACT Mathematics (2024)	ACT Reading (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 11th Grade	ACT English 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Reading 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
The Sterling School	Public	6-12	724 Woodford Drive	Mount Sterling	40353	Montgomery County	Montgomery County	No	No	No	No	(859) 497-8761	59	4	15.7	88.1%	56 (94.9%)	1 (1.7%)	1 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.7%)	5	276^th of 290 public high schools	4.8%					(n/a)							10.0	0.0	10.0
Montgomery County High School	Public	9-12	724 Woodford Drive	Mount Sterling	40353	Montgomery County	Montgomery County	No	No	No	No	(859) 497-8765	1,306	67	19.4	52.4%	1,143 (87.5%)	23 (1.8%)	87 (6.7%)	8 (0.6%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (3.1%)	63.7	90^th of 290 public high schools	69.0%		42.9	159^th of 276 public high schools	42.4%	69	43.0		58.0	46.0	46.0	45.0	39.0	26.0	45.0	$11,013	$947	$489	$1,436	$7,959	$2,287	$10,246
Montgomery County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	682 Woodford St	Mount Sterling	40353	Montgomery County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(859) 498-1103	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Gateway Children's Services	Public, Virtual	5-12	37 North Maysville	Mount Sterling	40353	Montgomery County	Montgomery County	No	No	Yes	No	(859) 497-6428	16	2	7.1	50.0%	16 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Bath County High School	Public	9-12	645 Chenault Dr	Owingsville	40360	Bath County	Bath County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 674-6325	608	37	16.4	70.4%	555 (91.3%)	11 (1.8%)	30 (4.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.8%)	51.4	132^nd of 290 public high schools	54.5%		39.5	169^th of 276 public high schools	38.8%	37	21.0		48.0	41.0	51.0	52.0	44.0	19.0	34.0	$14,246	$1,296	$501	$1,805	$8,636	$2,300	$10,936
Second Chance Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	335 West Main Street	Owingsville	40360	Bath County	Bath County	No	No	Yes	No	(606) 674-8165	13	2	6.5	84.6%	13 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Powell County Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	642 Rose Way	Stanton	40380	Powell County	Powell County	No	No	Yes	No	(606) 663-3505	38	1	38.0	81.6%	38 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)		20.0	17.0
Powell County High School	Public	9-12	700 W College Ave	Stanton	40380	Powell County	Powell County	No	No	No	No	(606) 663-3320	614	39	15.9	66.6%	585 (95.3%)	4 (0.7%)	17 (2.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.1%)	20.4	227^th of 290 public high schools	21.7%		17.8	229^th of 276 public high schools	17.0%	2	23.0		34.0	20.0	19.0	32.0	34.0	13.0	29.0	$14,986	$1,622	$1,242	$2,914	$8,760	$2,450	$11,160
Cardinal Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	650 Boone Avenue	Winchester	40391	Clark County	Clark County	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(859) 744-4545	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
George Rogers Clark High School	Public	9-12	2745 New Boonesboro Road	Winchester	40391	Clark County	Clark County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 744-6111	1,704	91	18.8	55.2%	1,346 (79.0%)	112 (6.6%)	158 (9.3%)	11 (0.6%)	5 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	71 (4.2%)	41.6	168^th of 290 public high schools	42.1%		45.7	150^th of 276 public high schools	45.7%	18	32.0		37.0	23.0	32.0	43.0	42.0	29.0	39.0	$15,993	$1,657	$343	$2,003	$9,831	$2,737	$12,569

Frequently Asked Questions about The Sterling School

What district is The Sterling School in?

Montgomery County

How many students attend The Sterling School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 59 students attended The Sterling School.

What is the racial makeup of The Sterling School?

Students at The Sterling School are 95% White, 2% African American, 2% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Is The Sterling School a good school?

The Sterling School ranks in the bottom 4.8% of Kentucky high schools.

Rate The Sterling School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Kentucky Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.