Summary:
The Chester 01 school district in South Carolina contains three high schools—Chester Senior High, Lewisville High, and Great Falls High—serving a combined 1,505 students, with Great Falls also covering middle school grades 6-8.
For parents, the standout choice academically is Lewisville High, which posts the district's best state ranking (140th of 245), the lowest chronic absenteeism (18.6%), and the strongest U.S. History proficiency (68.31%, well above the state's 62.57%). It also graduates 94.6% of its students. Meanwhile, Great Falls High is the comeback story: despite the lowest ranking, it has the highest graduation rate (96.2%), a perfect 0.0% dropout rate, and exceptional Algebra 1 scores (83.07% proficiency). The concern is Chester Senior High, which struggles with a 78.4% graduation rate, 29.9% chronic absenteeism, and a declining state ranking (from 141st to 163rd over two years).
Key takeaways: Great Falls High spends far more per student ($19,665) than the others (~$15,500-15,900) yet has the lowest test scores, suggesting funds go toward support services that keep kids in school rather than test prep. All three schools show a dramatic jump from English 1 to English 2 proficiency (e.g., Chester Sr. goes from 49% to 81%), hinting at strong interventions or course selection effects. Finally, attendance is the clearest driver of success: Lewisville High has the best attendance and best scores, while Chester Senior High has the worst attendance and worst outcomes. If you're choosing between these schools, prioritize Lewisville High for academics, but know that Great Falls High excels at getting students to graduation.
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