Enrollment
355
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.1:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Chester, South Carolina, enrolling 355 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.1:1, Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry is leaner than roughly 87% of South Carolina schools and 22% under the state's 14.3:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 355 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Against 297 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #143.
Its student body is led by African American (73%) and White (12%) (diversity index 44/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 355 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 20.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 96 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 355 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Chester's public schools, it stands alongside Chester Park Elementary School for the Arts (331 students): Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (11.1:1 vs 11:1).
Chester 01 also operates Chester Senior High (699 students) and Lewisville Elementary (594 students) alongside Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry compares
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$14,214
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
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.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Chester 01, which includes Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry.
$14,214
Per student
-2%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.8%
State 45.8%
Federal 20.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
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
- 699
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- 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.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~355 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry's federal record.
- Compare Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry against another school. Compare schools
- Chester 01's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry a good school?
Chester Park School Elementary of Inquiry earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of South Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
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.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.