Education

The Chester County School District has approximately 6,800 students and more than 760 employees. The District operates three elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools, one career center, and one adult education center.

With a budget of more than $29 million annually, the Chester School District employs teachers with a wide range of skills and talents. More than 60% of teachers have a Master's Degree. In addition to the basic program of studies, the District offers a variety of programs designed to meet special needs including gifted/talented programs, academic assistance, state-of-the-art wireless technology computer programs, two-way interactive distance learning studios, honors classes, advanced placement, and more.

The County has modern facilities to supplement the outstanding work of our educators. Three new school facilities were completed in 1993 as a result of a $22.5 million bond referendum. A $19 million bond referendum was approved by the County voters in 1996 in order to fund the construction of the new Chester Middle School and the renovation of two other schools.

Chester County schools are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the South Carolina Department of Education.

In addition to Chester's public schools, there are several private and religious schools within the county that offer a wide range of educational opportunities to the community.

Secondary and continuing education is provided to Chester County residents through nearby York Technical College which is building a new campus in Chester. The first phase of the campus will open in the Spring of 2009 and will feature over 25,000 square feet of state-of-the-art training facilities.

York Technical College enrolls more than 5,500 full-time students annually from York, Chester and Lancaster counties. The site for many workforce training programs, York Tech offers associate degrees in over 80 programs of study and is the jumping off point for thousands of students who transfer after two-years to major four-year universities and colleges.

In addition to York Technical College, area residents also have access to several colleges and universities including UNC-Charlotte (45 minutes North); the University of South Carolina's main campus in Columbia (45 minutes South); the University of South Carolina-Lancaster (30 minutes East); and several smaller liberal arts colleges located in the Charlotte metro region.

The area's business community is also hard at work to ensure Chester County's children receive the very best educational experience possible. Area businesses sponsor Communities in Schools, homework centers, and Junior Achievement programs in support of our youth. The Leroy Springs Student Loan Program is yet another testament to the area's business community support of education throughout the County. The Springs Student Loan Program is sponsored by the Springs Foundation, Inc., to aid worthy young men and women who seek financial assistance for either two-year or four-year degree programs.