Summary:
The Chester School District in Chester, CT, serves families through a single elementary school, Chester Elementary School, which spans grades PK through 6 with an enrollment of 198 students. This small, single-school district means the school and district metrics are identical, and the school consistently ranks among the top fifth of Connecticut elementary schools, earning 4 stars in the most recent school years.
Chester Elementary stands out for exceptional math and science performance. In 2025-2026, 5th-grade math proficiency reached 83.3% compared to the state's 45.8%, a gap of nearly 38 percentage points. Science scores are similarly impressive, with 5th-grade NGSS at 73.5% proficiency versus 52.2% statewide. English Language Arts is also above average: 4th-grade ELA is 66.7% versus 50.9%, and 5th-grade ELA is 70.8% versus 53.5%. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low at 4.1%, just one-quarter of the state's 16.4%, indicating strong student engagement.
Despite strong absolute scores, the school's state ranking has slipped from a 5-star, 93rd-percentile position in 2023-2024 to a 4-star, 81st-percentile ranking in 2025-2026. This likely reflects changes in other schools or cohorts rather than a decline at Chester, as test results remain stable. One area to watch is 3rd-grade math, which dipped from 77.1% to 70.6% between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. About 28% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, and per-student spending is high at $23,501, a common trait for small districts. Overall, Chester Elementary offers consistently high outcomes, especially in STEM subjects, making it a strong choice for families in the area.
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