Chester School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Chester, New Hampshire - 1 schools

An equity score of 59/100 ranks Chester School District #43 of 114 districts in New Hampshire (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $26,279 per pupil, Chester School District ranks #74 of 161 New Hampshire districts by per-pupil spending (New Hampshire districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

505
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$26,279
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Chester School District operates 1 public schools serving 505 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New Hampshire. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Rockingham County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $26,279 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 161 New Hampshire districts by per-pupil spending. See how New Hampshire compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 64.4% local, 30.9% state, and 4.8% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 59/100, ranked #43 of 114 in New Hampshire against a state average of 51, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 254:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 26.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 89.2% White, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 2.0% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Chester Academy, enrolling 508 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Chester Academy accounts for 100.0% of all Chester School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Chester School District a distant remainder — means Chester School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Chester School District student-counselor ratio is 254:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Chester School District is typically wider than the Chester School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Chester School District chronic absenteeism rate is 26.6% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Chester School District is typically wider than the Chester School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

4.8%
Federal
30.9%
State
64.4%
Local

Funding Equity

59
Equity Score
43 / 114
State Rank
51
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Chester School District.

White 89.2%
Hispanic or Latino 6.5%
Asian 2.0%
Multiracial 2.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

254:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
26.6%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Chester School District

School Enrollment
Chester Academy
508

How Chester School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The New Hampshire districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Nottingham School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Milton School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
New Boston School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Stratham School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Moultonborough School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Chester School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in New Hampshire

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Manchester School District
12,105 students · 21 schools · $16,178/pupil
Compare vs Chester School District →
Nashua School District
10,004 students · 20 schools · $17,617/pupil
Compare vs Chester School District →
Bedford School District
4,169 students · 6 schools · $17,544/pupil
Compare vs Chester School District →
Londonderry School District
4,128 students · 6 schools · $20,160/pupil
Compare vs Chester School District →
Concord School District
4,037 students · 7 schools · $21,765/pupil
Compare vs Chester School District →

Compare Chester School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Manchester School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Chester School District?

Chester School District has 1 school, including 1 combined. Total enrollment is 505 students.

How much does Chester School District spend per student?

Chester School District spends $26,279 per student. The district has an equity score of 59/100, ranking #43 in New Hampshire.

What is the demographic composition of Chester School District?

Chester School District students are 89.2% White, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 2.0% Asian, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Chester School District?

Chester School District has an equity score of 59/100, ranking #43 out of 114 districts in New Hampshire.