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Chester, NY, town hallPhoto: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Chester · Chester Union Free School District

Chester’s public schools outscore 66% of New York districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Chester, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. On the state math tests, 53% of Chester’s students scored proficient, above the New York average (46%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New York, not nationally.

#225of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 75% 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
48%
▼ 1 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
53%
▲ 6 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 3–7 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$33.5K
▼ 3% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
10.4
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
931 students on the public path
In brief

Chester’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 868 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Chester’s, its schools beat 71%, higher than their 66% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 48% and math 53% in spring 2022, against 49% and 46% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $33,546 per student, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Chester Academy-Middle/High School. 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

B Test scoresB− Graduation

B+: better than 66% of New York school districts, #225 of 755 New York towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the New York average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 66%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (868)Better than 71%
B−A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 377 test results and a graduating class of 98 could put Chester anywhere from B− to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 75% of Chester’s students in the tested grades sat them (407 in math, 347 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 Elementary SchoolChester Union Free School DistrictC−
6–12Chester Academy-Middle/High SchoolChester Union Free School DistrictB

Chester’s public schools are run by Chester Union Free School District, which also serves Chester. 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.

Chester Union Free School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 931 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 10.4 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$33,546NY $34,607 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading48%
State average 48.9% · 347 students tested
Math53%
State average 46.5% · 407 students tested

Chester vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ChesterB+Chester Union Free
GoshenBGoshen Central
Chester (town)B+Chester Union Free PK–12 · Monroe-Woodbury Central PK–12 · Warwick Valley Central K–12

Every school in Chester

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

Also serving Chesterin other towns
Chester Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
393 students10:1Rate it →
Chester Academy-Middle/High School
High · Grades 6–12
B
538 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Chester’s schools

Are Chester’s schools good?

By New York’s own tests, yes: the public schools Chester children attend outscore 66% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #225 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 71%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Chester in?

Chester Union Free School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 931 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

What is Chester’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Chester Union Free School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Chester spend per student?

$33,546 in Chester Union Free School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. 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 New York. Stars are from neighbors.