Summary:
Chester Middle is a public middle school in Chester, South Carolina, serving 517 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Chester 01 District, which is ranked 46 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. With a predominantly African American (62.09%) and low-income student population, Chester Middle has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of South Carolina middle schools over the past 10 years, indicating significant challenges in providing equitable educational opportunities.
Despite spending significantly more per student ($12,686 in 2022-2023) compared to the state average, Chester Middle's academic performance remains poor. The school's proficiency rates on state assessments are significantly lower than the state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, only 29.2% of 6th graders were proficient in ELA, compared to 53.7% statewide, and only 9.7% were proficient in Math, compared to 38.4% statewide. The school's subgroup performance is also concerning, with the school ranking in the bottom quarter of the state for African American, White, low-socioeconomic, disabled, and gifted and talented students.
When compared to nearby schools, the differences in academic performance are stark. For instance, Lewisville Middle, which is in the same district, outperforms Chester Middle across multiple metrics, including test scores and state rankings. This suggests that factors beyond just funding and resources, such as school leadership, instructional practices, and community engagement, may be contributing to the disparities in student outcomes at Chester Middle.
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Detail:
Public 6-8
District:
Chester 01
SchoolDigger Rank:
280th of 325 South Carolina Middle Schools
Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,686
Students who attend Chester Middle usually attend:
Feeder schools for Chester Middle:
Student/teacher ratio: 13.2
Number of students: 517
Racial breakdown:
African American:
62.1%
White:
25.7%
Hispanic:
6.4%
more
Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%
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