Chester Area School District 39-1

102 2nd Ave
Chester, SD 57016
(District boundaries shown in map)
6/
10
Top 50%
For the 2025 school year, there are 3 public middle schools serving 129 students in Chester Area School District 39-1. This district's average middle testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in South Dakota.
Public Middle Schools in Chester Area School District 39-1 have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the South Dakota public middle school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 2% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public middle school average of 42% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
7 Schools
297 Schools
# Students
542 Students
40,141 Students
# Teachers
38 Teachers
2,999 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

District Rank

Chester Area School District 39-1, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 45-49% has decreased from 50-54% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#61 out of 148 school districts
(Top 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Chester Area School District 39-1, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
45%
42%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Chester Area School District 39-1 and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of South Dakota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
54%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Chester Area School District 39-1 and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of South Dakota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
45-49%
42%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Chester Area School District 39-1 and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of South Dakota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
45-49%
82%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Chester Area School District 39-1 and public school graduation rate of South Dakota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.05
0.59
# American Indian Students
n/a
10,455 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
26%
# Asian Students
n/a
519 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
1%
# Hispanic Students
5 Students
2,703 Students
% Hispanic Students
1%
7%
# Black Students
n/a
1,024 Students
% Black Students
n/a
3%
# White Students
528 Students
23,358 Students
% White Students
97%
58%
# Hawaiian Students
1 Student
46 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
8 Students
2,036 Students
% of Two or more races Students
2%
5%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
31
174
# Students in K Grade:
36
896
# Students in 1st Grade:
20
903
# Students in 2nd Grade:
28
918
# Students in 3rd Grade:
26
750
# Students in 4th Grade:
25
793
# Students in 5th Grade:
28
1,598
# Students in 6th Grade:
23
9,664
# Students in 7th Grade:
28
11,058
# Students in 8th Grade:
32
11,237
# Students in 9th Grade:
84
674
# Students in 10th Grade:
86
578
# Students in 11th Grade:
58
481
# Students in 12th Grade:
37
417
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,376 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,550 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$7 MM
$1,916 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Chester Area School District 39-1 and median value from total revenues of all school districts in South Dakota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$6 MM
$1,844 MM
This chart displays total spending of Chester Area School District 39-1 and median value from total spendings of all school districts in South Dakota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$12,376
$13,121
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Chester Area School District 39-1 and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in South Dakota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$10,550
$12,623
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Chester Area School District 39-1 and average spending per public school student of all school districts in South Dakota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Chester Area School District 39-1 Public Middle Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Chester Middle School - 03
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
102 2nd Ave
Chester, SD 57016
(605) 489-2411
Grades: 6-8
| 69 students
Rank: #22.
Graceville Colony - 07
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
23843 - 446a Ave
Winfred, SD 57076
(605) 256-2267
Grades: K-8
| 21 students
Rank: #33.
Rustic Acres Elementary - 04
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
24243 456th Ave
Chester, SD 57016
(605) 489-2411
Grades: K-8
| 39 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 7 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 542 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 3%
  • : 45-49% (Btm 50% in SD)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 45% (Top 50%)
  • : 54% (Top 50%)
  • : 45-49% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

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