- Enrollment
- 107
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Chester, SD
Chester Elementary -02
Federal NCES profile for Chester Elementary -02, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 461230000131
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 69
📋 Attendance 86
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Chester Elementary -02 earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of South Dakota schools.
- #2 of 5
- public schools in Chester · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.4:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 9.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Chester Elementary -02 has class sizes larger than 72% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Chester Elementary -02 ranks #2 of 5 public schools in Chester, SD.
School address
District: Chester Area School District 39-1 · South Dakota
NCES ID 461230000131 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
Chester Elementary -02 shrank from 159 students in 2022-23 to 148 in 2023-24 (-6.9%).
Teacher FTE held 10.0 → 10.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-11 students YoY 461230000131 · Chester, SD Other · SMALL · TRAD
154 enr · 15.4:1 · 9.4% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: Chester High School - 01 (107 students)
Chester Elementary -02 shrank from 159 students in 2022-23 to 148 in 2023-24 (-6.9%). Teacher FTE held 10.0 → 10.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Chester Elementary -02 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Chester Elementary -02
154 students
- Chester High S
Chester High School - 01
107 students
- Chester Area C
Chester Area Cyber School - 92
106 students
- High Plains -
High Plains - 06
84 students
- Chester Middle
Chester Middle School - 03
67 students
- Rustic Acres E 41
Rustic Acres Elementary - 04
41 students
What this shows Chester Elementary -02 reports 154 students on the CCD universe file.
How Chester Elementary -02 compares
Chester Elementary -02 is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▲ 13% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 9.4% | ▼ 67% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 154 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
154
Bigger than 15% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
9.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 67% below the South Dakota average of 28.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 72% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
5.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$10,311
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,985
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 154 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 94.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
Two or More 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 94.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 10.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 10.0, Chester Elementary -02 is less mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
District finance for Chester Area School District 39-1 reports $10,311 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Chester Elementary -02 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chester High School - 01 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Chester Area Cyber School - 92 | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| High Plains - 06 | Smaller | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
| Chester Middle School - 03 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rustic Acres Elementary - 04 | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Chester Elementary -02's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 106
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 84
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 67
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 41
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~154 students)
Frequently asked questions about Chester Elementary -02
How many students attend Chester Elementary -02?
Chester Elementary -02 has 154 students enrolled. It is a public school in Chester, SD. CCD year-over-year: 159 (2022-23) → 148 (2023-24), down 11.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Chester Elementary -02?
The student-teacher ratio at Chester Elementary -02 is 15.4:1, which is 13% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Chester Elementary -02?
9.4% of students at Chester Elementary -02 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Chester Elementary -02?
The largest demographic group at Chester Elementary -02 is White at 94.8% of enrollment, in Chester, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Chester Elementary -02?
Chester Elementary -02 has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Chester Elementary -02 rank among public schools in Chester?
By Resource Investment Index, Chester Elementary -02 ranks #2 of 5 public schools in Chester, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Chester on the city page.
What other schools are in Chester Area School District 39-1?
Besides Chester Elementary -02, Chester Area School District 39-1 also operates Chester High School - 01 (107 students), Chester Area Cyber School - 92 (106 students), and High Plains - 06 (84 students). See the Chester Area School District 39-1 district page for the complete list.