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Home > South Dakota > Lake County

Chester Area School District 39-1

102 2nd Ave
Chester, SD 57016

( shown in map)

:

6/

10

Top 50%

Tel: (605) 489-2411

For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public elementary schools serving 277 students in Chester Area School District 39-1. This district's average elementary is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.

Public Elementary Schools in Chester Area School District 39-1 have an score of 42% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and score of 56% (versus the 49% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 3% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public elementary school average of 36% (majority American Indian).

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">Overview

This School District

This State (SD)

# Schools

7 Schools

495 Schools

# Students

542 Students

100,764 Students

# Teachers

38 Teachers

7,485 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

14:1

14:1

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="student-by-grade">Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
Pre-K	31	17
Kind	36	68
1	20	63
2	28	64
3	26	61
4	25	62
5	28	63
6	23	63
7	28	57
8	32	58

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="district-rank">District Rank

Chester Area School District 39-1, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 15% has decreased from 30-34% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (SD)

#65 out of 148 school districts
(Top 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1
2023	#65
2022	#61
2021	#48
2019	#31
2018	#22
2017	#30
2016	#45
2015	#26
2014	#25
2013	#31
2012	#101

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45%

42%

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2023	45%	42%
2022	45%	42%
2021	45%	43%
2019	52%	46%
2018	57%	47%
2017	56%	47%
2016	46%	45%
2015	51%	42%
2014	24%	51%
2013	87%	73%
2012	78%	75%

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54%

51%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2022	54%	51%
2021	59%	52%
2019	62%	54%
2018	57%	54%
2017	58%	53%
2016	66%	52%
2015	59%	49%
2014	24%	52%
2013	77%	74%
2012	71%	75%
2011	69%	75%

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45-49%

42%

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2022	47%	42%
2021	37%	42%

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15%

82%

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2023	15%	82%
2022	47%	82%
2021	42%	80%
2020	37%	84%
2019	47%	83%
2018	32%	82%
2017	52%	82%
2016	47%	82%
2015	42%	82%
2014	47%	81%
2013	57%	81%

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="students-by-ethnicity">Students by Ethnicity:

0.05

0.55

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2023	0.07	0.51
2022	0.07	0.50
2021	0.06	0.50
2020	0.05	0.50
2019	0.05	0.50
2018	0.04	0.47
2017	0.04	0.47
2016	0.06	0.42
2015	0.06	0.41
2014	0.05	0.40
2013	0.05	0.38
2012	0.05	0.38
2011	0.04	0.40
2010	0.03	0.37
2009	0.03	0.38
2008	0.04	0.30
2007	0.05	0.28
2006	0.04	0.34
2005	0.05	0.28
2004	0.07	0.34
2003	0.04	0.32
2002	0.03	0.31
2001	0.02	0.31
2000	0.02	0.27
1999	0.02	0.29

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% American Indian

n/a

17%

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2009-2020)
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2020	1%	16%
2019	1%	16%
2018	1%	16%
2017	1%	16%
2016	3%	12%
2015	2%	11%
2014	1%	11%
2012	1%	12%
2011	1%	17%
2010	1%	16%
2009	2%	17%

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% Asian

n/a

2%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2001-2012)
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2012	1%	2%
2008	1%	1%
2007	2%	1%
2004	1%	1%
2003	2%	1%
2002	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%

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% Hispanic

1%

8%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2023	1%	8%
2022	2%	7%
2021	1%	7%
2020	1%	6%
2019	1%	6%
2013	1%	4%
2007	1%	2%
2006	2%	2%
2005	2%	2%
2004	1%	2%
2002	1%	1%

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% Black

n/a

3%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2012-2018)
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2018	1%	3%
2017	1%	3%
2012	1%	3%

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% White

97%

64%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2023	97%	68%
2022	96%	69%
2021	97%	69%
2020	98%	69%
2019	98%	69%
2018	98%	71%
2017	98%	71%
2016	97%	75%
2015	97%	76%
2014	97%	77%
2013	98%	78%
2012	97%	78%
2011	98%	76%
2010	99%	78%
2009	98%	77%
2008	98%	83%
2007	97%	84%
2006	98%	80%
2005	98%	84%
2004	97%	80%
2003	98%	81%
2002	98%	82%
2001	99%	82%
2000	100%	86%
1999	100%	83%
1998	100%	83%
1997	100%	83%
1996	100%	84%
1995	100%	84%
1994	100%	84%
1993	100%	86%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

n/a

% Two or more races

2%

6%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2023	2%	5%
2022	2%	5%
2021	2%	5%
2015	1%	3%
2014	2%	2%
2013	1%	2%
2011	1%	1%

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All Ethnic Groups

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="district-revenue-and-spending">District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,376 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,146. The school district revenue/student has grown by 21% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $10,550 is less than the state median of $12,647. The school district spending/student has grown by 13% over four school years.

This School District

This State (SD)

Total Revenue

$7 MM

$1,916 MM

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2023	$7 MM	$6 MM
2022	$6 MM	$5 MM
2021	$7 MM	$6 MM
2020	$6 MM	$5 MM
2019	$6 MM	$5 MM
2018	$6 MM	$5 MM
2017	$6 MM	$5 MM
2016	$5 MM	$4 MM
2015	$5 MM	$4 MM
2014	$5 MM	$4 MM
2012	$5 MM	$4 MM
2011	$5 MM	$4 MM
2010	$5 MM	$4 MM
2009	$5 MM	$3 MM
2008	$5 MM	$3 MM
2007	$4 MM	$3 MM
2006	$3 MM	$3 MM
2005	$3 MM	$3 MM
2004	$3 MM	$3 MM
2003	$3 MM	$2 MM
2002	$3 MM	$2 MM
2001	$3 MM	$2 MM
2000	$2 MM	$2 MM
1999	$2 MM	$2 MM
1998	$2 MM	$2 MM
1997	$2 MM	$2 MM
1996	$2 MM	$2 MM
1995	$2 MM	$2 MM

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Spending

$6 MM

$1,844 MM

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2023	$6 MM	$5 MM
2022	$6 MM	$5 MM
2021	$6 MM	$5 MM
2020	$6 MM	$5 MM
2019	$5 MM	$5 MM
2018	$5 MM	$5 MM
2017	$5 MM	$5 MM
2016	$5 MM	$4 MM
2015	$6 MM	$3 MM
2014	$5 MM	$4 MM
2012	$5 MM	$3 MM
2011	$5 MM	$4 MM
2010	$6 MM	$3 MM
2009	$4 MM	$3 MM
2008	$5 MM	$3 MM
2007	$4 MM	$3 MM
2006	$3 MM	$3 MM
2005	$3 MM	$3 MM
2004	$3 MM	$2 MM
2003	$2 MM	$3 MM
2002	$3 MM	$2 MM
2001	$3 MM	$2 MM
2000	$2 MM	$2 MM
1999	$2 MM	$2 MM
1998	$2 MM	$2 MM
1997	$2 MM	$2 MM
1996	$1 MM	$2 MM
1995	$2 MM	$2 MM

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Revenue / Student

$12,376

$13,146

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2023	$11,646	$15,739
2022	$10,171	$14,965
2021	$11,467	$16,342
2020	$10,171	$14,965
2019	$10,018	$14,816
2018	$9,556	$15,113
2017	$9,075	$15,388
2016	$8,565	$14,130
2015	$7,522	$11,732
2014	$7,985	$11,720
2012	$8,153	$11,685
2011	$7,652	$11,891
2010	$7,706	$11,732
2009	$6,865	$10,941
2008	$8,190	$10,856
2007	$10,305	$10,306
2006	$8,981	$10,049
2005	$8,464	$9,356
2004	$8,251	$8,456
2003	$7,484	$8,337
2002	$7,293	$7,799
2001	$6,655	$7,600
2000	$6,673	$7,183
1999	$6,405	$6,671
1998	$5,739	$5,954
1997	$4,915	$5,709
1995	$4,368	$5,253
1992	$4,595	$4,776

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Spending / Student

$10,550

$12,647

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Chester Area School District 39-1	South Dakota
2023	$9,927	$14,560
2022	$9,283	$14,171
2021	$9,774	$15,118
2020	$9,283	$14,171
2019	$9,172	$14,567
2018	$8,608	$15,244
2017	$8,264	$14,997
2016	$7,978	$13,890
2015	$8,351	$11,206
2014	$7,968	$11,268
2012	$8,034	$10,790
2011	$8,257	$11,832
2010	$8,555	$11,206
2009	$6,289	$10,706
2008	$8,493	$10,238
2007	$10,151	$9,578
2006	$8,459	$9,559
2005	$7,992	$9,435
2004	$7,937	$8,315
2003	$7,031	$8,840
2002	$7,072	$8,399
2001	$7,337	$8,153
2000	$6,646	$7,670
1999	$5,140	$6,645
1998	$4,484	$5,696
1997	$4,236	$5,234
1995	$4,414	$5,109
1992	$4,349	$5,221

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Best Chester Area School District 39-1 Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Chester Middle School - 03

(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
:

7/

10

Top 50%

Add to Compare

102 2nd Ave
Chester, SD 57016
(605) 489-2411

Gr: 6-8 | 69 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 4%

Rank: #22.

Graceville Colony - 07

(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
:

6/

10

Top 50%

Add to Compare

23843 - 446a Ave
Winfred, SD 57076
(605) 256-2267

Gr: K-8 | 21 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1

Rank: #33.

Chester Elementary -02

(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
:

6/

10

Top 50%

Add to Compare

102 2nd Ave
Chester, SD 57016
(605) 489-2411

Gr: PK-5 | 148 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 4%

Rank: #44.

Rustic Acres Elementary - 04

(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 40-59%)
:

3/

10

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

24243 456th Ave
Chester, SD 57016
(605) 489-2411

Gr: K-8 | 39 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 7 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 542 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Minority Enrollment: 3%
: 15% (Top 30% in SD)
: Top 50%
: 45% (Top 50%)
: 54% (Top 50%)
: 45-49% (Top 30%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

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