Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Chester Elementary -02

Q: Is Chester Elementary -02 a good school?

Chester Elementary -02 ranks 110 th of 300 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

110^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 300 South Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 63% of South Dakota elementary schools

Summary

Chester Elementary -02 is a public elementary school serving 148 students in grades PK-5 in Chester, South Dakota. The school is part of the Chester Area School District 39-1, which is ranked 108 out of 147 school districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Chester Elementary -02 consistently outperforms its district and the state of South Dakota in academic assessments. In the 2024-2025 school year, 55.73% of all students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 53.31% for the district and 50.93% for the state. In Mathematics, 57.38% of students were proficient or better, compared to 41.32% for the district and 43.49% for the state. The school also has strong performance among certain student subgroups, with female students ranking 125 out of 291 South Dakota elementary schools in ELA and special education students ranking 44 out of 248.

When compared to other nearby schools, Graceville Colony - 07 and Rustic Acres Elementary - 04, which are also part of the Chester Area School District 39-1, have significantly lower academic performance and higher chronic absenteeism rates than Chester Elementary -02. This suggests Chester Elementary -02 has a stable and effective educational program that sets it apart from other schools in the area.

154

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,218

Per pupil spending ?

20.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

102 2nd Ave
Chester, SD 57016

(605) 489-2411

District: Chester Area School District 39-1

Students who attend Chester Elementary -02 usually attend:

Middle:	Chester Middle School - 03
High:	Chester High School - 01

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.8%

Hispanic:

3.2%

Two or more races:

1.3%

See top rated South Dakota elementary schools

Compare Chester Elementary -02 to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 80th percentile in 2018 → 63rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Dakota average (54% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Above the South Dakota median (63rd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 80th-percentile peak (2018) to 63rd (2025)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school54%

District avg46%

South Dakota avg47%

110^th of 300

South Dakota public elementary schools ?

Top 37%▲ up 6 pts since 2015

From top 43% (2015) to top 37% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Elementary Schools in the Chester Area School District 39-1

108^th of 147Chester Area School District 39-1 among South Dakota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	64.1	110 of 300	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.1	101 of 201	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.4	119 of 204	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	67.0	58 of 202	71.3%	★★★★☆
2021	57.6	91 of 202	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.3	45 of 206	78.2%	★★★★☆
2018	73.2	40 of 204	80.4%	★★★★☆
2017	65.5	63 of 207	69.6%	★★★★☆
2016	67.9	57 of 206	72.3%	★★★★☆
2015	58.7	90 of 209	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	72.9	41 of 201	79.6%	★★★★☆
2012	70.0	56 of 214	73.8%	★★★★☆
2011	74.9	29 of 205	85.9%	★★★★☆
2010	42.6	145 of 206	29.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	58.5	92 of 196	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	65.5	66 of 194	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	74.6	24 of 194	87.6%	★★★★☆
2006	65.7	70 of 197	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	69.2	52 of 194	73.2%	★★★★☆
2004	73.1	34 of 189	82.0%	★★★★☆
2003	65.4	56 of 187	70.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	56.8	125 of 291	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	77.7	26 of 165	84.2%	★★★★☆
2022	85.8	13 of 150	91.3%	★★★★★
2021	70.5	39 of 151	74.2%	★★★★☆
2019	80.3	14 of 155	91.0%	★★★★★
2018	74.1	34 of 163	79.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	41.4	152 of 237	35.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	67.9	79 of 292	72.9%	★★★★☆
2024	33.8	115 of 161	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	48.5	84 of 166	49.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.1	54 of 154	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.4	85 of 157	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	76.3	33 of 160	79.4%	★★★★☆
2018	89.5	5 of 170	97.1%	★★★★★

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	27.3	25 of 29	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	66.0	44 of 248	82.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	55.5	138 of 287	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	38.9	125 of 184	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.5	131 of 185	29.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.3	64 of 184	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.1	113 of 185	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.7	62 of 191	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.6	57 of 186	69.4%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2025)82nd percentile+19 vs school

Male (2025)73rd percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)57th percentile-6 vs school

White (2025)52nd percentile-11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)36th percentile-27 vs school

Migrant (2025)14th percentile-50 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics57%+14 vs state

English Language Arts56%+5 vs state

Science35%-6 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Chester Elementary -02 and help other families decide.

Rate Chester Elementary -02

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Chester Elementary -02

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Science (2025)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Chester Elementary -02	Public	PK, KG-5	102 2nd Ave	Chester	57016	Lake County	Chester Area School District 39-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 489-2411	154	10	15.4	20.1%	146 (94.8%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	2 (1.3%)	64.1	110^th of 300 public elementary schools	63.3%		53.1	101^st of 201 public elementary schools	49.8%	9	57.1	50.0	60.0				55.7	66.7	35.0	70.0				57.4	35.0			$12,218	$1,052	$11,166
Colman Elementary - 03	Public	PK, KG-6	200 S Loban Ave	Colman	57017	Moody County	Colman-Egan School District 50-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 534-3534	193	14	13.7	23.3%	154 (79.8%)	1 (0.5%)	18 (9.3%)	1 (0.5%)	7 (3.6%)	1 (0.5%)	11 (5.7%)	63.8	112^th of 300 public elementary schools	62.7%		49.6	110^th of 201 public elementary schools	45.3%	2	60.7	56.3	50.0	40.0			51.6	64.3	62.5	57.2	44.0			56.7	39.3			$12,028	$803	$11,224
Rustic Acres Elementary - 04	Public	K-8	24243 456th Ave	Madison	57042	Lake County	Chester Area School District 39-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 489-2411	41	3	13.6		41 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20	251^st of 300 public elementary schools	16.3%					(n/a)	33.3	25.0	25.0	0.0	0.0	50.0	25.0	16.7	25.0	0.0	20.0	0.0	25.0	16.7	25.0	25.0	25.0	$10,858	$417	$10,441
Dell Rapids Elementary - 02	Public	K-4	309 W 15th St	Dell Rapids	57022	Minnehaha County	Dell Rapids School District 49-3	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 428-5473	355	28	12.9	12.7%	324 (91.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	81.9	22^nd of 300 public elementary schools	92.7%		89	7^th of 201 public elementary schools	96.5%	15	58.2	68.8					64.4	80.0	74.0					76.5				$11,806	$480	$11,326
Tri-Valley Elementary in Colton - 02	Public	K-4	46450 252nd St	Colton	57018	Minnehaha County	Tri-Valley School District 49-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 446-3538	154	13	12.0	16.2%	139 (90.3%)	2 (1.3%)	9 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	66.5	98^th of 300 public elementary schools	67.3%		34.3	145^th of 201 public elementary schools	27.9%	47	77.8	52.6					60.7	88.9	42.1					57.1				$14,169	$704	$13,465
Madison Elementary - 07	Public	K-5	700 NW 9th St	Madison	57042	Lake County	Madison Central School District 39-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 256-7721	515	33	15.6	28.5%	412 (80.0%)	3 (0.6%)	58 (11.3%)	5 (1.0%)	9 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.4%)	66.4	100^th of 300 public elementary schools	66.7%		55.9	94^th of 201 public elementary schools	53.2%	6	41.5	57.1	69.4				56.2	41.5	56.0	57.6				51.8	57.7			$10,752	$967	$9,785
Camridge Colony School	Public	K-8	102 School St	Rutland	57054	Lake County	Oldham-Ramona-Rutland School District 39-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(605) 586-4352	24	2	10.5		24 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18.6	256^th of 300 public elementary schools	14.7%					(n/a)	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	25.0	0.0	5.3	66.7	50.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	15.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	$15,690	$1,291	$14,400
Oldham-Ramona-Rutland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	102 School St	Rutland	57054	Lake County	Oldham-Ramona-Rutland School District 39-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(605) 586-4352	116	14	8.0	21.6%	103 (88.8%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	1 (0.9%)	1 (0.9%)	47.2	177^th of 300 public elementary schools	41.0%					(n/a)	35.7	57.2	41.2				44.5	28.6	71.4	23.5				40.0	35.3			$18,035	$1,300	$16,735
Baltic Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	1 Bulldog Ave	Baltic	57003	Minnehaha County	Baltic School District 49-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 529-5464	307	18	16.9	16.0%	277 (90.2%)	2 (0.7%)	12 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	8 (2.6%)	78	37^th of 300 public elementary schools	87.7%		68	53^rd of 201 public elementary schools	73.6%	16	59.2	63.0	65.0				62.2	77.6	63.0	57.5				66.7	57.5			$11,079	$680	$10,399
Orland Colony Elementary - 04	Public	K-8	45050 246th St	Montrose	57048	McCook County	Montrose School District 43-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 363-5025	42	3	14.0		42 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	72.5	67^th of 300 public elementary schools	77.7%					(n/a)	80.0	66.7	50.0	83.3	50.0	60.0	68.0	40.0	66.7	0.0	66.7	25.0	60.0	48.0	50.0	60.0	57.1	$12,046	$269	$11,777

Frequently Asked Questions about Chester Elementary -02

What is the racial makeup of Chester Elementary -02?

Students at Chester Elementary -02 are 95% White, 3% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Chester Elementary -02?

In the 2024-25 school year, 154 students attended Chester Elementary -02.

What schools do graduates of Chester Elementary -02 attend?

Students who attend Chester Elementary -02 usually go on to attend:

Middle : Chester Middle School - 03
High : Chester High School - 01

Is Chester Elementary -02 a good school?

Chester Elementary -02 ranks 110^th of 300 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Chester Elementary -02 in?

Chester Area School District 39-1

Rate Chester Elementary -02!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

SDSouth Dakota Elementary School Rankings

SDSouth Dakota District Rankings

Schools in Chester, SD

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Chester Elementary -02!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Dakota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.