- Enrollment
- 699
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Chester, SC
Chester Middle
Federal NCES profile for Chester Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450153000299
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Chester Middle earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 75% of South Carolina schools.
- #3 of 6
- public schools in Chester · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.3:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Chester Middle has class sizes smaller than 75% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Chester Middle ranks #3 of 6 public schools in Chester, SC.
School address
District: Chester 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450153000299 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-49 students YoY
Chester Middle shrank from 517 students in 2022-23 to 468 in 2023-24 (-9.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 39.0 → 32.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-49 students YoY 450153000299 · Chester, SC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
479 enr · 12.3:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Chester Senior High (699 students)
Chester Middle shrank from 517 students in 2022-23 to 468 in 2023-24 (-9.5%). Teacher FTE lost 39.0 → 32.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Chester Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Chester Senior
Chester Senior High
699 students
- Lewisville Ele
Lewisville Elementary
594 students
- This school
Chester Middle
479 students
- Lewisville Hig
Lewisville High
431 students
- Great Falls Hi
Great Falls High
375 students
- Chester Park S
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry
355 students
What this shows Chester Middle reports 479 students on the CCD universe file.
How Chester Middle compares
Chester Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Carolina | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.3:1 | ▼ 14% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 479 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.3:1
Leaner classes than 73% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
479
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% above the South Carolina average of 74.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.3:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 25% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 75% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
52.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,920
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 240 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
276
in-school suspensions + 221 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 57.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 103.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 55.9%
White 23.6%
Hispanic or Latino 14.0%
Two or More 6.5%
Largest group: African American at 55.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.8, Chester Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Chester 01 reports $14,920 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Chester Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chester Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lewisville Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lewisville High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Great Falls High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Chester Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 594
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 431
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 375
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 355
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~479 students)
Frequently asked questions about Chester Middle
How many students attend Chester Middle?
Chester Middle has 479 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Chester, SC. CCD year-over-year: 517 (2022-23) → 468 (2023-24), down 49.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Chester Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Chester Middle is 12.3:1, which is 14% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 22% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Chester Middle?
100.0% of students at Chester Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Chester Middle?
The largest demographic group at Chester Middle is African American at 55.9% of enrollment, in Chester, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Chester Middle?
Chester Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical 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 Middle rank among public schools in Chester?
By Resource Investment Index, Chester Middle ranks #3 of 6 public schools in Chester, SC. 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 01?
Besides Chester Middle, Chester 01 also operates Chester Senior High (699 students), Lewisville Elementary (594 students), and Lewisville High (431 students). See the Chester 01 district page for the complete list.