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Chester Waterside Station of the Philadelphia Electric CompanyChester Waterside Station of the Philadelphia Electric Company · Photo: Jack Boucher · Public domain
D
Schools in Chester · Chester-Upland School District

Chester’s public schools score below 93% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 5% of Chester’s students scored proficient, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Chester, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Pennsylvania, not nationally.

#1,029of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 81% 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
19%
▼ 36 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
5%
▼ 31 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
75%
▼ 12 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$24.5K
▲ 13% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.0
PA 13.4 · larger classes
Schools in town
13
2,340 students on the public path
In brief

Chester’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 380 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Chester’s, its schools beat 1%, lower than their 7% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 19% of tested students were proficient in reading and 5% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 81% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

75% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania. Districts ↓

Charters enroll nearly as many students as the district

Charter schools located in Chester enroll 4,483 students, against the district’s 3,039. Each is graded on its own results; none is part of the district grade. Every school ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $24,532 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 16% 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

D Test scoresD Graduation

D: better than 7% of Pennsylvania school districts, #1,029 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Both inputs trail the Pennsylvania average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 7%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (380)Better than 1%
D−DA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 879 test results and a graduating class of 347 could put Chester anywhere from D− to D. The tests are from spring 2022, when 81% of Chester’s students in the tested grades sat them (844 in math, 914 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–83 schoolsDepends on your addressD− to D
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressD− to D

Chester’s public schools are run by Chester-Upland School District, which also serves Chester and Upland. 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-Upland School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 3,039 students, up 16% since 2020–21 · 14.0 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$24,532PA $21,758 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading19%
State average 55.1% · 914 students tested
Math5%
State average 36.1% · 844 students tested

Chester vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ChesterDChester-Upland
UplandDChester-Upland
Nether ProvidenceA+Wallingford-Swarthmore
RidleyC+Ridley
TrainerCChichester
EddystoneC+Ridley
ParksideA−Penn-Delco
Upper ChichesterCChichester
BrookhavenA−Penn-Delco

Greenwich, NJ and Logan, NJ border Chester but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.

Every school in Chester

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

District schools in Chesterby address
Edgmont Scholars Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8
422 students19:1Rate it →
Chester Upland Sch of Arts
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D−
384 students14:1Rate it →
Stetser El Sch
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D
251 students11:1Rate it →
STEM at Showalter
High · Grades 7–12
D
477 students14:1Rate it →
Chester HS
High · Grades 9–12
D−
806 students16:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Chester Community CS
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
Charter
3,782 students21:1Rate it →
Chester Charter Scholars Academy CS
Grades K–12
D
Charter
701 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Drexel Neumann Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
182 students17:1Rate it →
Ysc Academy
High · Grades 7–12
Private · Nonsectarian · All-boys
82 students8:1Rate it →
Frederick Douglass Christian School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
72 students7:1Rate it →
Center for Self Development
Elementary · Grades 1–4
Private · Nonsectarian
39 students8:1Rate it →
Widener University Child Development Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Private · Nonsectarian
10 students10:1Rate it →
Faith Temple Christian School
Elementary · Grades 2–7
Private · Religious
8 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Chester’s schools

Are Chester’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Chester children attend score below 93% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #1,029 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 1%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Chester in?

Chester-Upland School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,039 students in 7 schools (2024–25).

Where do Chester kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Chester HS and STEM at Showalter.

What is Chester’s graduation rate?

75% of the class of 2023 in Chester-Upland School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Chester spend per student?

$24,532 in Chester-Upland School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Chester?

Yes: Drexel Neumann Academy (Catholic, grades PK–8, 182 students), Ysc Academy (nonsectarian · all-boys, grades 7–12, 82 students), Frederick Douglass Christian School (religious, grades PK–8, 72 students), Center for Self Development (nonsectarian, grades 1–4, 39 students), Widener University Child Development Center (nonsectarian, grades PK, 10 students) and Faith Temple Christian School (religious, grades 2–7, 8 students). Chester also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.

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 Pennsylvania. Stars are from neighbors.