High Plains - 06

High Plains - 06 is a public virtual high school located in Chester, South Dakota, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 61 students. 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.

High Plains - 06 has significantly lower proficiency rates in Smarter Balanced Assessments compared to the Chester Area School District and the state of South Dakota across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2024-2025, only 20% of 11th-grade students at High Plains - 06 were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 57.35% in the district and 63.84% statewide. The school's performance in mathematics is particularly concerning, with 0% of students proficient or better in 11th and 12th grades. High Plains - 06's performance on science assessments is also below the district and state averages. Additionally, the school has had a four-year graduation rate ranging from 56.2% to 86.4% over the past few years, which is generally lower than the nearby Chester High School - 01 and the state average.

The stark contrast in performance between High Plains - 06 and the nearby Chester High School - 01, which consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state, suggests that the virtual nature of High Plains - 06 may be a significant factor in its lower academic outcomes. Additionally, the higher percentage of low socioeconomic status students at High Plains - 06 may contribute to the school's lower academic performance, as research has shown that students from disadvantaged backgrounds often face additional barriers to educational success. However, the relatively better performance of special education students at High Plains - 06 suggests that the school may be providing more targeted support and resources for this student subgroup, which could be a model for improving outcomes for other student populations.