Sterling Community School

251 Sterling Road

School District

Sterling
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:9
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 11, 2019

I haven't had any issues with either of my boys.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2017

Sterling Community School sure holds up to its name. The monthly community meetings are a fantastic idea that get families into the school. There are many opportunities for parents to be involved as well; watching a class performance, or helping in the classroom and just recently, the school held a bazaar and Breakfast with Santa. All of the teachers my children have had so far have been great with communicating. I am very pleased with Sterling and I'm happy we moved here.
Submitted by student on November 14, 2016

This school is amazing. The teachers are loving and care about you and help you when you have issues understanding anything. I LOVE THIS SCHOOL
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2016

The teachers at SCS are dedicated and truly care about the students. I have had positive experiences with all of the teachers through the years. From notes to emails & conferences, communication has always been a priority. Sterling teachers are one of the lowest paid in the state. Teacher contracts/salaries are public and online. Comparing Sterling's salary to other towns... it is sad. I am thankful, despite low salaries, there are passionate and creative teachers. The elementary grades runs smoothly. I feel my children are learning what is appropriate. However, the middle school still needs some direction. There is little opportunity for electives & discipline needs to be re-evaluated. Middle school students also need more after school activities/clubs. This town has a great sense of community which you can see through this school.
Submitted by other on October 07, 2016

Most of the teachers are doing their best with the resources available. Inevitably, many of the best ones will move on out of frustration.The town doesn't seem to understand that there is now COMPETITION for taxpayers!Provide a mediocre school environment, and people move out ( check the current enrollment numbers). Provide mediocre High School choices, people choose to live elsewhere.
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2016

Probably about 50% of the staff at this school are just trying to get through the day with no regards for the children who need their kind support or the parents that pay hefty taxes to make this school and the teacher's paychecks happen. It is truly one off the most beautiful schools in the area with so much support in funding according to tax breakdowns pulled from the town hall. The resources are there but most of the teachers and staff (many of which come from Rhode Island probably because they know they pay more in CT) feel they still don't get payed enough! This does not give them the right to treat the parents of this town with little to no respect. We pay a lot for our children's education and they should get the education that they deserve with the beautiful resources that they are provided.
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2016

My daughter, a third grade student, has had 4 wonderful teachers here. She loves attending school each day. There have been some issues with school policies, but I am hopeful the administration is learning from the mistakes that have been made and I do see some improvement. Overall, I feel your children will be happy here and parents will be happy with the educators.
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2016

There are so many issues with this school. Poor communication, no extracurricular activities for children, poorly structured middle school environment, and the list goes on. No opportunities for children to excel academically
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2016

I have had children in this school from pre-k to 7th. All I have to say is nothing ever changes and if anything it has gotten worse. The teachers try to make do with what they've been given and the school itself does not have the funding to provide necessary programs that would benefit their educational growth. There are minimal extracurricular activities offered. There's not even a chorus group anymore. I have been very disappointed with our experience with this school and have been searching for other means of educating my children. The student plans that the teachers ask for at the beginning of the year is a joke. They never seem to follow the plan despite much communication regarding it. There are a handful of excellent teachers that exist but not enough to hold this school together. Profound changes need to be made for this school to succeed.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2015

My daughter has been a student at SCS since pre-k. She is now a thriving 3rd grader. Her teachers have been actively involved with her learning and challenging her (she is more advanced than some of her peers, and each teacher has realized this and offered her extra work, more challenging assignments, etc). Mrs. Lewin is her current teacher, and she is doing very well keeping her kids engaged and assigning appropriate course work. The new principal Mrs. Ternowchek, has had an overwhelming positive effect on the school in such a short time. My daughter says that even the morning announcements are more lively! It's making the students feel more at home, and open to their environment. I am hopeful that the positive learning environment continues and that teacher retention can improve. We have lost some great teachers in the past, and that is disheartening. Overall, great experience with this school.
Submitted by other on November 22, 2015

There are many committed parents and staff members at SCS. The students are amazing and the community is quaint!
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2015

Teachers have been wonderful! We moved here last year and my son loves the school. He has made gains in just the year that he has been here from his previous school. This small community comes together for the kids.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2014

We moved to Sterling (pre-children) and now that we are new parents I have been paying attention to the school district here. Of course the star rating and reviews have me a bit concerned. As an educator myself, I know that testing scores are not the end all be all. I also know that learning and support needs to take place at home as well to make a well rounded student. That said, I am still second guessing our choice to start a family here based on the school reports. As an educator, I also took a peek at the teachers contract for Sterling. The pay scale for the teachers in that school is just sad. As a top step teacher (more experienced), the salary is at least 10k under most school districts. It's almost laughable! It is no wonder that this school is losing out on highly qualified educators. I really think this town needs to take this into consideration. Families who value their children's education are going to move, and families considering moving here will most likely change their mind after realizing how poor the school system is. It's just poor planning for any kind of growth on the towns part.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2014

Due to the lack of funding in this small town, the school suffers in many ways. Despite it's newly built exterior, the students are lacking in truly knowledgeable sources. The student ratio is generally 20 students to 1 teacher, which leaves advanced or not so advanced students lost in the shuffle. There are no special programs for those with advanced needs and I was told by the school that there was nothing they could do. The seasoned teachers seem tired and the new teachers are just going with the flow. There is no innovation for our kids and no desire to succeed.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2014

I have twins attending this school. Both of my children are tested with the level of knowledge required to pass each course. However, I have noticed that my children do not bring home much homework. This worries me. I think this teaches them that they are required to work on a daily basis once they hit 18 years of age. I see no reason not to push them harder. I would like to see the school focus on placement for 9th grade by presenting material from surrounding schools and by testing my children to see what they are inclined to pursue for a career. Right now, they do NOT have enough information about what career path to follow. This makes me think that the selection for a high school might be incorrect. The school should be reviewing what types of careers fit the student best and then offer suggestions about where to attend high school to fit the student's desire to pursue the career of their choice. The teachers/staff seem like they are actively involved with directing my children. I don't feel like my children aren't involved with course curriculum. But they can definitely benefit from career path information at this point in their lives.
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2013

More communication needs to take place at this school, especially between parents and teachers. Teachers need to inform parents when child is getting special resources. Testing child without parental consent is not acceptable!! Severe lack of communication in this school.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2010

CT Magazine just rated Sterling Comm. School as dead last in performance for small towns in CT. 29 of 29. Scores were based on 2007,8,9 CMT's.