Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 7 schools in district

Chester Middle School - 03

102 2nd Ave, Chester, SD 57016Chester Area School District 39-1 →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
75
Students
Total enrolled
$10,587
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 26% vs nat'l
12.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 17% vs nat'l
59/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↑ 17% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 75 students in grades 06–08 in Chester, South Dakota.
26% below average funding
District spends $10,587 per pupil, 26% less than the national average of $14,347.
Above-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 59th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Chester Middle School - 03 is a small middle in Chester, South Dakota, serving grades 06–08 with 75 students. The district invests $10,587 per student — 26% below the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. With only 20% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at Chester Middle School - 03

75
Total Students
12.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
20%
Free Lunch
6
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution37 male · 38 female
49%
51%
Male 49%Female 51%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility20%
National avg 52% · 15 students
Student Composition
95%
White95%
Multiracial5%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 461230000832

Academic Outcomes at Chester Middle School - 03

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
59
/ 100
Above-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 59th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 97th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 57016

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$10,587Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$10,587
State avg
$16,272
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$4,658
Student Support$2,012
Administration$1,270
Operations$1,588
Other$1,059
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $10,587 spent per student, an estimated $4,690 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
32%
55%
State government
32.0%
Local (property tax)
55.3%
Federal programs
12.7%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 20% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-average funding — $10,587/student, 26% less than the national average
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Chester Elementary -02Rustic Acres Elementary - 04Graceville Colony - 07
↓
High School
Chester Area Cyber School - 92Chester High School - 01High Plains - 06
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyLake County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictChester Area School District 39-1 →
Phone: (605)489-2411
NCES ID: 461230000832
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Chester seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Chester Area School District 39-1
Elem
Chester Elementary -02
159 students · PK–05
● 59 opp21% FRL
High
Chester Area Cyber School - 92
123 students · 09–12
● 59 opp2% FRL
High
Chester High School - 01
116 students · 09–12
● 59 opp9% FRL
High
High Plains - 06
52 students · 09–12
● 59 opp15% FRL
Elem
Rustic Acres Elementary - 04
36 students · KG–08
● 60 opp8% FRL
Elem
Graceville Colony - 07
15 students · KG–08
● 60 opp20% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
102 2nd Ave, Chester, SD 57016
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.