Whiteside County Schools & Education
Whiteside County, Illinois
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
88.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,657
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,250
School Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 63/100
State Score Position
#52
of 102 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Whiteside County
Measured School Summary
Whiteside County performs at an average level with a school score of 63/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.3%.
Funding Context
Whiteside County spends $9,657 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 1% below the Illinois average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Whiteside County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
49 public schools and 11 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
63/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #52 of 102 Illinois counties with school score data.
Completion
88.3%
0.5 pts below the state average
Funding context
$9,657
$407 above the state average
School coverage
49
11 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Whiteside County has 49 public schools across 11 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Whiteside County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Mixed school landscape
Whiteside County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#52
of 102 Illinois counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 67% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Sterling CUSD 5
Elementary to high school visible
3,264 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Morrison CUSD 6
Elementary to high school visible
980 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
River Bend CUSD 2
Elementary to high school visible
942 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Rock Falls ESD 13
Elementary and middle visible
865 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Bi-County Special Educ Coop is the largest listed district slice, with 17 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Whiteside County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Whiteside County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in Whiteside County, Illinois
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Diverse School Options in Whiteside County
Whiteside County features 49 public schools, including 14 elementary, six middle, and 10 high schools. Eleven school districts manage this system, providing education to 8,439 total students across the county.
Sterling CUSD 5 Leads the County
Sterling CUSD 5 is the largest district, serving 3,264 students across six schools. Traditional public education is the standard here, as the county currently has zero charter schools in operation.
A Blend of Town and Country Schools
Most schools are located in town settings, with 37 town locales and 12 rural settings shaping the student experience. Sterling High School is the county's largest facility with 1,049 students, while the overall average school size remains manageable at 301 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
49
in Whiteside County
Reported Enrollment
8,439
33 schools reporting
School Districts
11
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
11 School Districts in Whiteside County
Sterling CUSD 5
Morrison CUSD 6
River Bend CUSD 2
Rock Falls ESD 13
Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD3
Erie CUSD 1
Rock Falls Twp HSD 301
East Coloma - Nelson CESD 20
Montmorency CCSD 145
Lee/Ogle/Whiteside ROE
49 Public Schools in Whiteside County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 49 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling High School | Profile | Sterling CUSD 5 | Sterling, 61081Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,049 |
| Challand Middle School | Record | Sterling CUSD 5 | Sterling, 61081Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 710 |
| Rock Falls Township High School | Record | Rock Falls Twp HSD 301 | Rock Falls, 61071Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 566 |
| Franklin Elem School | Record | Sterling CUSD 5 | Sterling, 61081Town: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 414 |
| Fulton Elem School | Record | River Bend CUSD 2 | Fulton, 61252Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 406 |
| Jefferson Elem School | Record | Sterling CUSD 5 | Sterling, 61081Town: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 401 |
| Lincoln Elem School | Record | Sterling CUSD 5 | Sterling, 61081Town: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 350 |
| Washington Elem School | Record | Sterling CUSD 5 | Sterling, 61081Town: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 340 |
| Morrison High School | Record | Morrison CUSD 6 | Morrison, 61270Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 296 |
| Fulton High School | Record | River Bend CUSD 2 | Fulton, 61252Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 273 |
| Northside School | Record | Morrison CUSD 6 | Morrison, 61270Town: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 252 |
| Dillon Elementary School | Record | Rock Falls ESD 13 | Rock Falls, 61071Town: Distant | KG–2 | Primary | 249 |
| Erie Elem School | Record | Erie CUSD 1 | Erie, 61250Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 246 |
| Merrill Elem School | Record | Rock Falls ESD 13 | Rock Falls, 61071Town: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 246 |
| Prophetstown Elem School | Record | Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD3 | Prophetstown, 61277Rural: Distant | PK–3 | Primary | 243 |
| Rock Falls Middle School | Record | Rock Falls ESD 13 | Rock Falls, 61071Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 241 |
| Morrison Jr High School | Record | Morrison CUSD 6 | Morrison, 61270Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 220 |
| East Coloma - Nelson Elem Sch | Record | East Coloma - Nelson CESD 20 | Rock Falls, 61071Town: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 215 |
| Prophetstown High School | Record | Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD3 | Prophetstown, 61277Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 214 |
| River Bend Middle School | Record | River Bend CUSD 2 | Fulton, 61252Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 213 |
Sterling High School
Sterling CUSD 5
Sterling, 61081 / Town: Distant
Rock Falls Township High School
Rock Falls Twp HSD 301
Rock Falls, 61071 / Town: Distant
Dillon Elementary School
Rock Falls ESD 13
Rock Falls, 61071 / Town: Distant
Prophetstown Elem School
Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD3
Prophetstown, 61277 / Rural: Distant
Rock Falls Middle School
Rock Falls ESD 13
Rock Falls, 61071 / Town: Distant
East Coloma - Nelson Elem Sch
East Coloma - Nelson CESD 20
Rock Falls, 61071 / Town: Distant
Prophetstown High School
Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD3
Prophetstown, 61277 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,657
State avg $9,250
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Whiteside County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Illinois counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Illinois?
How should I read the school score in Whiteside County?
What is the graduation rate in Whiteside County?
How much does Whiteside County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Whiteside County, Illinois — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Whiteside County, Illinois?
Whiteside County features 49 public schools, including 14 elementary, six middle, and 10 high schools. Eleven school districts manage this system, providing education to 8,439 total students across the county.
What are the major school districts in Whiteside County, Illinois?
Sterling CUSD 5 is the largest district, serving 3,264 students across six schools. Traditional public education is the standard here, as the county currently has zero charter schools in operation.
What is the school experience like in Whiteside County?
Most schools are located in town settings, with 37 town locales and 12 rural settings shaping the student experience. Sterling High School is the county's largest facility with 1,049 students, while the overall average school size remains manageable at 301 students.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.