Chester Area School District 39-1

The Chester Area School District 39-1 in South Dakota serves 7 schools, including 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 3 high schools. The district as a whole is ranked 74 out of 126 in the state and is rated 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Within the district, a few schools stand out. Chester High School - 01 consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. It has an impressive 85.7% four-year graduation rate and a low 0.8% dropout rate, while also outperforming the district and state averages on standardized test scores. Chester Elementary -02 also shows strong academic performance, with students exceeding the district and state averages in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

However, the district's virtual/cyber schools, such as Chester Area Cyber School - 92 and High Plains - 06, have significantly lower graduation rates, higher dropout rates, and lower standardized test scores compared to the traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Additionally, the smaller, more rural schools in the district tend to have lower test scores than the larger, more centralized schools. The district as a whole appears to be struggling, with the majority of schools performing below the state averages on standardized tests, suggesting the need for targeted strategies to improve overall academic outcomes.