Summary:
The city of Chester, South Carolina is home to 6 schools serving students from elementary through high school, including 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. The data reveals stark disparities in academic performance and resources across these schools, with some standout institutions like Academy for Teaching and Learning outperforming their peers on state assessments, while others like Chester Middle struggle with low proficiency rates.
The Academy for Teaching and Learning, a public charter elementary/middle school, stands out with the highest performance on state assessments, with 64.1% of 6th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts compared to the district average of 44.5% and the state average of 53.7%. In contrast, Chester Middle has significantly lower proficiency rates, with just 37.7% of 8th graders meeting or exceeding standards in ELA. The data suggests a correlation between the racial and economic composition of the schools and their academic outcomes, with the more affluent and predominantly white schools tending to outperform their high-poverty, majority African American peers.
Across the Chester 01 district, schools face significant challenges, with all but one institution having 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Spending per student varies widely, from $12,345 at Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry to $17,621 at Chester Senior High. While the data highlights the complex educational landscape in Chester, the success of Academy for Teaching and Learning as a public charter school suggests that innovative approaches may hold promise for improving outcomes across the district.
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