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Moxley Covered BridgeMoxley Covered Bridge · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Chelsea · First Branch Unified School District, White River Valley Supervisory Union

Chelsea’s public schools score below 62% of Vermont districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Chelsea, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Vermont, not nationally.

≈could be anywhere from D to B+K–12Where will my kid go?

From Vermont state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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
44%
▼ 0 pts vs VT 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
30%
▼ 3 pts vs VT 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
70–79%
▼ 3–12 pts vs VT 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.7K
▼ 33% vs VT $25.1K
FY2024 · First Branch Unified
Students per teacher
8.5
VT 11.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
230 students on the public path
In brief

Chelsea’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 207 Vermont towns with household incomes within a quarter of Chelsea’s, its schools beat 47%, higher than their 38% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 44% of tested students were proficient in reading and 30% in math, against 44% and 33% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

70–79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82% across Vermont (the state reports Chelsea’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,737 per student, against $25,064 across Vermont (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 5 the district’s path is First Branch Middle School. Enrollment is up 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Brookhaven Treatment & Learning Center (private) is in town. Every school ↓

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 Chelsea’s grade

B− Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 38% of Vermont school districts. Both inputs trail the Vermont average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Vermont school districts we grade (52)Better than 38%
Lower resultsHigher results
Vermont towns with similar household incomes (207)Better than 47%
Towns in Orange County (17)Better than 18%
DB+A rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 630 test results and a graduating class of 54 could put Chelsea anywhere from D to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Chelsea’s students in the tested grades sat them (632 in math, 629 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–4First Branch Elementary Schoolin TunbridgeC−
5–8First Branch Middle SchoolFirst Branch Unified School DistrictC+

To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Chelsea

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

First Branch Unified School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 2 schools · 230 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 8.5 per teacher (VT 11.3)
$16,737VT $25,064 · FY2024
White River Valley Supervisory UnionGrades · 0 schools · 0 students
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading · , White River Valley Supervisory Union44%
State average 44.4% · 629 students tested
Math · , White River Valley Supervisory Union30%
State average 33.1% · 632 students tested

Chelsea vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Vermont towns that share Chelsea’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ChelseaC+First Branch Unified PK–8 · White River Valley Supervisory Union
WashingtonD−Echo Valley PK–8 · Central Vermont Supervisory Union
Vershire—Rivendell Interstate PK–12 · Rivendell Interstate Supervisory District
TunbridgeC+First Branch Unified PK–8 · White River Valley Supervisory Union
BrookfieldB+Orange Southwest Unified PK–12 · Orange Southwest Supervisory Union

Every school in Chelsea

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

District schools in Chelseaby address
First Branch Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
C+
89 students7:1Rate it →
Also serving Chelseain other towns
First Branch Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Tunbridge
C−
141 students10:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Brookhaven Treatment & Learning Center
Elementary · Grades 2–8
Private · Special education
4 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Chelsea’s schools

Are Chelsea’s schools good?

On Vermont’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Chelsea children attend score below 62% of Vermont’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 47%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Chelsea in?

First Branch Unified School District, which runs grades PK–8 and enrolls 230 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

What is Chelsea’s graduation rate?

70–79% of the class of 2023 in White River Valley Supervisory Union graduated in four years, against 82% across Vermont.

How much does Chelsea spend per student?

$16,737 in First Branch Unified School District (FY2024), against $25,064 across Vermont. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Chelsea?

Yes: Brookhaven Treatment & Learning Center (special education, grades 2–8, 4 students).

Parents talk

What Chelsea families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Chelsea → 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 Vermont. Stars are from neighbors.