Middle Schools in Chester 01

The Chester 01 school district contains two middle schools serving grades 6-8: Chester Middle (479 students) and Lewisville Middle (295 students), together educating roughly 774 students in a district that ranks 54th out of 75 in South Carolina with a 2-star rating.

These two schools could hardly be more different. Lewisville Middle is the clear standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 71st percentile statewide—up from the 53rd percentile just two years ago. Its students outperform district and state averages in nearly every subject. For example, 70.4% of 6th graders are proficient in ELA versus 29.3% at Chester Middle, and in 6th-grade math the gap is even starker: 45.1% versus 12.8%. Lewisville Middle also beats the state average in 6th-grade science (57.2% vs. 51.9%), while Chester Middle sits at just 18.1%. Meanwhile, Chester Middle has fallen to a 0-star rating, ranking in the 7th percentile, with proficiency rates in math hovering between 12.8% and 23.6% across grades.

Perhaps the most telling metric is chronic absenteeism: 34.2% of Chester Middle students miss substantial instructional time, compared to 22.1% at Lewisville Middle and the state average of 22.3%. Interestingly, Chester Middle actually spends more per student ($15,969 vs. $13,663) yet achieves far worse outcomes, suggesting funding alone isn't the answer. Both schools post unusually high Algebra 1 pass rates (100% and 96.55%), likely reflecting a small, select group of advanced students. For parents, the choice is clear: Lewisville Middle is delivering strong, improving results, while Chester Middle faces serious challenges that the district must address, particularly around attendance and math instruction.