At a glance
Reported students
370
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
22.1
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
16.7:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
PK–04
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
Michigan elementary enrollment
51st percentile
Compared with 1,618 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
278.5
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School: 370 reported students.
State peer staffing position
66th percentile
16.7:1 reported; state peer median 15.8:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 290
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17.63
- Student–teacher ratio
- 16.4:1
What the reported data says about Joseph C Sterling Elementary School
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK–04 in Carleton. It is one of 8 current school records connected to Airport Community Schools. NCES reports 370 students for 2024–25.
Among 1,618 elementary schools in Michigan with comparable records, this school is close in size to the reported median of 366 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 51st percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 16.7:1, close to the Michigan median of 15.8:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are White (91.6%) and Hispanic or Latino (4.3%). English learners represent 1% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 13.8%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking Joseph C Sterling Elementary School
- 1How do the reported 16.7:1 student–teacher ratio and 22.1 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 0 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?
Enrollment needs
- English learners
- 1%
- Students with disabilities
- 13.8%
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 45.9%
- Lunch program
- Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 0
- Nurses (FTE)
- 0
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 1
- Social workers (FTE)
- 1
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White91.6%
- Hispanic4.3%
- Black1.4%
- Asian0%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial2.4%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Airport Community Schools
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Loren Eyler Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–04
292 reported students
Fred W Ritter Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–04
265 reported students
Henry Niedermeier Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–04
242 reported students
Wagar Middle School
Middle · Grades 05–05
221 reported students
Wagar Junior High School
Middle · Grades 06–08
641 reported students
Airport Center for Education
Other · Grades KG–12
49 reported students
Public schools near Joseph C Sterling Elementary School
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loren Eyler Elementary School Elementary · Airport Community Schools | PK–04 | 292 | 2.1 mi |
| Henry Niedermeier Elementary School Elementary · Airport Community Schools | PK–04 | 242 | 4.6 mi |
| Fred W Ritter Elementary School Elementary · Airport Community Schools | PK–04 | 265 | 5.6 mi |
| North Elementary School Elementary · Jefferson Schools (Monroe) | 02–05 | 366 | 5.9 mi |
| Alice I Ferguson Early Childhood Center Elementary · Huron School District | PK–KG | 180 | 6 mi |
| Brown Elementary School Elementary · Huron School District | 01–05 | 434 | 6.1 mi |
Frequently asked questions about Joseph C Sterling Elementary School
What grades does Joseph C Sterling Elementary School serve?
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School reports grades PK–04 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as an elementary school in Airport Community Schools.
How many students attend Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School reported 370 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 51st percentile among 1,618 Michigan elementary schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 290 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
The calculated ratio is 16.7:1, based on 370 students and 22.1 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The Michigan median for the same school level is 15.8:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is Joseph C Sterling Elementary School a public, charter, or magnet school?
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on Airport Community Schools attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of Joseph C Sterling Elementary School students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
45.9% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. The school participates in community eligibility, which can provide meals to every student and changes how eligibility is reported. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is Joseph C Sterling Elementary School in?
Joseph C Sterling Elementary School is part of Airport Community Schools, based in Carleton, MI, which operates 8 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near Joseph C Sterling Elementary School?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Loren Eyler Elementary School (2.1 mi), Henry Niedermeier Elementary School (4.6 mi), Fred W Ritter Elementary School (5.6 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.