Summary:
Middle Schools in zip code 29706 consist of a single school, Chester Middle, serving grades 6 through 8 in the Chester 01 district, with an enrollment of 479 students.
For parents considering this area, Chester Middle presents a mixed picture. The school’s overall state ranking has declined over the past three years, now sitting at the 7th percentile (310th out of 335 schools) with a 0-star rating. Academic proficiency in core subjects is consistently below district and state averages. For example, only 12.8% of 6th graders are proficient in math compared to 40.9% statewide, and science proficiency for 6th graders is 18.1% versus 51.9% at the state level. ELA scores are also lower, with 6th grade at 29.3% proficiency versus 56.3% statewide. A significant concern is the chronic absenteeism rate of 34.2%, which is much higher than the district (25.4%) and state (22.3%) averages, likely impacting academic outcomes. The school spends $15,969 per student, which is substantial, yet results remain low, raising questions about resource allocation.
There are, however, notable bright spots. The most striking is a perfect 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam, far exceeding the district (76.48%) and state (73.95%) averages, suggesting that advanced math students receive exceptional support. Additionally, 7th-grade math proficiency more than doubled from 10.7% to 23.6% year-over-year, indicating that some interventions may be taking effect. While the school faces clear challenges in grade-level performance and attendance, these positive signals in advanced coursework and specific grade levels offer hope for future improvement. Parents should weigh these factors carefully when evaluating the school.
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