Chester Area School District 39-1

District Overview
Located at 102 2nd Ave in Chester, South Dakota, the Chester Area School District 39-1 operates as an active, open regular public school district within a distant rural community setting. Free of supervisory union management and non-charter in status, this district delivers comprehensive public education spanning from prekindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. Across its seven operational schools, the district offers a continuous academic pathway tailored to local families. Community members and researchers seeking additional information regarding the district's administration or programs can visit their official website at http://www.chester.k12.sd.us or reach out directly by phone at (605) 489-2411.

Reflecting the 2024–2025 National Center for Education Statistics dataset context, the district serves a total student body of 582 learners, composed of 297 male and 285 female students. Demographic representation includes 559 White students, 13 students of two or more races, 9 Hispanic students, and 1 Pacific Islander student. Student distribution spans foundational early education—including 33 prekindergarten and 36 kindergarten students—through a sizable high school cohort consisting of 84 ninth, 80 tenth, 77 eleventh, and 56 twelfth graders. To effectively manage instruction and school operations, the district employs a total staff of approximately 156.26 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, featuring 70.66 FTE teachers, 10.95 FTE instructional aides, and 74.65 FTE support staff members dedicated to student success.
7
Total Schools
582
Total Students
70.7
Full-Time Teachers
8.2
Student/Teacher Ratio
Demographics

District Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Chester Area School District 39-1
Demographic Student Count
White559
Hispanic9
Two or More13
Pacific Islander1
  • White
    559 (96.0%)
  • Two or More
    13 (2.2%)
  • Hispanic
    9 (1.5%)
  • Pacific Islander
    1 (0.2%)
School Levels

School Levels Data Table

School Levels in Chester Area School District 39-1
School LevelSchool Count
Elementary3
Middle1
High3
Other0
School Map
District Details
Status:Open
District type:Regular public school district that is not a component of a supervisory union
Charter:Not applicable
Number of schools:7
Students:582*
Teachers (FTE):70.7*
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:8.2
Schools in Chester Area School District 39-1
Found 7 Schools