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Chester Town Hall, MAPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0
C−
Schools in Chester · Gateway School District

Chester’s public schools score below 77% of Massachusetts districts on tests and graduation

In Chester, 32% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Massachusetts average (41%). The grade covers the public school district serving Chester, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Massachusetts, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Massachusetts state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
35%
▼ 9 pts vs MA 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
32%
▼ 9 pts vs MA 41%
2021–22
Spent per student
$27.1K
▲ 2% vs MA $26.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
8.7
MA 11.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
447 students on the public path
In brief

Chester’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 35% of tested students were proficient in reading and 32% in math, against 44% and 41% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $27,138 per student, against $26,530 across Massachusetts (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Gateway Regional School. Enrollment is up 13% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Chester’s grade

C Test scores

C−: better than 23% of Massachusetts school districts. Test scores are below the Massachusetts average; there is no graduation rate to add.

Massachusetts school districts we grade (394)Better than 23%
Lower resultsHigher results
Massachusetts towns with similar household incomes (232)Better than 25%
Towns in Hampden County (16)Better than 6%
C−CA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 415 test results could put Chester anywhere from C− to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Chester’s students in the tested grades sat them (414 in math, 416 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Chester, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Chester ElementaryGateway School DistrictC
6–12Gateway Regional Schoolin HuntingtonA−

Chester’s public schools are run by Gateway School District, which also serves Blandford, Huntington, Middlefield and Montgomery and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Gateway School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 707 students, up 13% since 2020–21 · 8.7 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$27,138MA $26,530 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading35%
State average 43.7% · 416 students tested
Math32%
State average 40.7% · 414 students tested

Chester vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Massachusetts towns that share Chester’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ChesterC−Gateway
HuntingtonC−Gateway
WorthingtonCWorthington
Middlefield—Gateway
BlandfordC−Gateway
BecketB−Central Berkshire

3 of the 5 neighbors share Gateway with Chester, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Chester

2 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Massachusetts’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Chesterby address
Chester Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
114 students9:1Rate it →
Also serving Chesterin other towns
Gateway Regional School
High · Grades 6–12 · Huntington
A−
333 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about Chester’s schools

Are Chester’s schools good?

On Massachusetts’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Chester children attend score below 77% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 25%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Chester in?

Gateway School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 707 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

How much does Chester spend per student?

$27,138 in Gateway School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Chester families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Chester → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Massachusetts. Stars are from neighbors.