For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public elementary schools serving 277 students in Chester Area School District 39-1. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in Chester Area School District 39-1 have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 3% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public elementary school average of 36% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
7 Schools
495 Schools
# Students
542 Students
100,764 Students
# Teachers
38 Teachers
7,485 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
0.55
% American Indian
n/a
17%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
1%
8%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
97%
64%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,376 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,146. The school district revenue/student has grown by 21% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,550 is less than the state median of $12,647. The school district spending/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$7 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$6 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,376
$13,146
Spending / Student
$10,550
$12,647
Best Chester Area School District 39-1 Public Elementary Schools (2026)
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.
Chester Elementary -02
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
102 2nd Ave
Chester, SD 57016
(605) 489-2411
Chester, SD 57016
(605) 489-2411
Gr: PK-5 | 148 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #44.
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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