Public schools in Chester, VA
11 open public schools with an address in Chester, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
11
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
9,557
11 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.8:1
Virginia median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Chester public schools
The federal directory lists 11 public schools in Chester, VA: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 11 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 9,557 students, an average of 869 per school. The largest campus is Thomas Dale High (2,582 students), and the largest elementary school is C.E. Curtis Elementary (767).
Every listed school belongs to Chesterfield County Public Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.8:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 76% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Chester
Elementary schools in Chester
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.C. Wells Elementary Chesterfield County Public Schools | PK–05 | 606 | 14.1:1 | |
| C.E. Curtis Elementary Chesterfield County Public Schools | PK–05 | 767 | 12.3:1 | |
| Ecoff Elementary Chesterfield County Public Schools | PK–05 | 764 | 14.5:1 | |
| Elizabeth Scott Elementary Chesterfield County Public Schools | PK–05 | 729 | 12.3:1 | |
| Enon Elementary Chesterfield County Public Schools | PK–05 | 691 | 13.8:1 | |
| Harrowgate Elementary Chesterfield County Public Schools | PK–05 | 486 | 12.8:1 |
Middle schools in Chester
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carver Middle Chesterfield County Public Schools | 06–08 | 970 | 12.8:1 | |
| Elizabeth Davis Middle Chesterfield County Public Schools | 06–08 | 1,364 | 14.6:1 |
High schools in Chester
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carver College and Career Academy Chesterfield County Public Schools · Alternative School | 09–12 | 272 | 6.6:1 | |
| Thomas Dale High Chesterfield County Public Schools | 09–12 | 2,582 | 13.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Chester
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy Chesterfield County Public Schools | PK–PK | 326 | 8.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White31.4%
- Hispanic22.5%
- Black37.3%
- Asian2.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial6.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 11 Chester schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (9,557 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Chester
How many public schools are in Chester, VA?
The current NCES directory lists 11 open public schools with a location address in Chester: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 9,557 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Chester?
All listed public schools with an address in Chester belong to Chesterfield County Public Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Chester?
Thomas Dale High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Chester, with 2,582 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Chester?
No school with an address in Chester is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Virginia.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Chester schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Chester public schools is 12.8:1, lower than the Virginia school median of 13.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Chester guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Virginia cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Virginia cities