For the 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public middle schools serving 131 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 4% of the student body (majority 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
292 Schools
# Students
582 Students
39,746 Students
# Teachers
35 Teachers
2,943 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%
84%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)5.9%
22.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.08
0.60
% American Indian
n/a
26%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
2%
7%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
96%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,589 in this school district is less than the state median of $14,736. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,404 is less than the state median of $15,173. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$7 MM
$2,163 MM
Spending
$7 MM
$2,227 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,589
$14,736
Spending / Student
$11,404
$15,173
Best Chester Area School District 39-1 Public Middle Schools (2026-27)
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 | 67 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
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 | 23 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
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 | 41 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
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