- Enrollment
- 699
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Chester, SC
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry
Federal NCES profile for Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450153000036
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of South Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Chester · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.1:1
- small classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry has class sizes smaller than 87% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry ranks #1 of 3 schools in Chester, SC.
School address
District: Chester 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450153000036 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-27 students YoY
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry shrank from 409 students in 2022-23 to 382 in 2023-24 (-6.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 32.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-27 students YoY 450153000036 · Chester, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
355 enr · 11.1:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Chester Senior High (699 students)
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry shrank from 409 students in 2022-23 to 382 in 2023-24 (-6.6%). Teacher FTE lost 32.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry 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
- Chester Middle
Chester Middle
479 students
- Lewisville Hig
Lewisville High
431 students
- Great Falls Hi
Great Falls High
375 students
- This school
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry
355 students
What this shows Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry reports 355 students on the CCD universe file.
How Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry compares
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry 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 | 11.1:1 | ▼ 22% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 355 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.1:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
355
Bigger than 40% 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
11.1:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 13% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
31.5%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 355 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 94 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 27.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 73.2%
White 11.5%
Two or More 8.2%
Hispanic or Latino 7.0%
Largest group: African American at 73.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.9, Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry is less 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 Park School Elementary of Inquiry Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chester Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lewisville Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chester Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar 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 |
Comparisons are relative to Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry'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
- 479
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 431
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 375
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar other schools in Chester
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~355 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry
How many students attend Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry?
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry has 355 students enrolled. It is a public school in Chester, SC. CCD year-over-year: 409 (2022-23) → 382 (2023-24), down 27.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry?
The student-teacher ratio at Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry is 11.1:1, which is 22% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 29% 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 Park School Elementary of Inquiry?
100.0% of students at Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry?
The largest demographic group at Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry is African American at 73.2% of enrollment, in Chester, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry?
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Park School Elementary of Inquiry rank among schools in Chester?
By Resource Investment Index, Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry ranks #1 of 3 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 schools in Chester on the city page.
What other schools are in Chester 01?
Besides Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry, Chester 01 also operates Chester Senior High (699 students), Lewisville Elementary (594 students), and Chester Middle (479 students). See the Chester 01 district page for the complete list.