For the 2025-26 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 42% (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
Student By Grade
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 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 15% has decreased from 30-34% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#65 out of 148 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
45%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
54%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
45-49%
42%
Graduation Rate
15%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.05
0.59
% American Indian
n/a
26%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
1%
7%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
97%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
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.
Total Revenue
$7 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$6 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,376
$13,121
Spending / Student
$10,550
$12,623
Best Chester Area School District 39-1 Public Middle Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Chester Middle School - 03
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
102 2nd Ave
Chester, SD 57016
(605) 489-2411
Chester, SD 57016
(605) 489-2411
Gr: 6-8 | 69 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #22.
Graceville Colony - 07
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
23843 - 446a Ave
Winfred, SD 57076
(605) 256-2267
Winfred, SD 57076
(605) 256-2267
Gr: K-8 | 21 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
Rank: #33.
Rustic Acres Elementary - 04
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
24243 456th Ave
Chester, SD 57016
(605) 489-2411
Chester, SD 57016
(605) 489-2411
Gr: K-8 | 39 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
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