Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Early childhood Co-ed
Private schools in Chester, VA
3 schools in Chester itself and 16 more within 12 miles. EISTC pays up to the state share of per-pupil public school funding where you live.
Chester private schools at a glance
Chester has 3 private schools of its own, and 16 more are within 12 miles. They are Primrose at Ironbridge Corner, Goddard School-Rivers Bend and The Lead Center. In Chester itself: 3 nonsectarian; 3 teach elementary grades and 1 teaches high school. Counting the 16 nearby, there are 19 in all: 1 Catholic, 10 other Christian, 7 nonsectarian and 1 of other faiths; 18 teach elementary grades and 11 teach high school. All of them are co-ed. 8 report membership in a school association, most often the Association of Christian Schools International (2023-24 federal survey). Of the 10 high schools that reported it, the typical one sends 18% of graduates on to a 4-year college (2023-24 federal survey). The typical school has about 42 students and 8.1 students per teacher (2023-24 federal survey).
1 Catholic
8.1 students per teacher, typical
Private schools in Chester (3)
Schools that give Chester as their address come first, then the 16 more within 12 miles. Closest schools first in each group. No school can pay to change its place in this list or its badge.
Affiliation, co-ed or single-sex, association membership and the share of graduates going on to a 4-year college come from the 2023-24 federal Private School Universe survey.
No school in Chester matches all of those.
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Early childhood Co-ed
The Lead Center
9 mi Grades 1-12 42 students 7 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed 0% to 4-year college
Nearby, within 12 miles (16)
Schools in other towns within 12 miles of downtown Chester.
No nearby school matches all of those.
The Goddard School
4 mi Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Early childhood Co-ed
Dream Tech Academy
8 mi Grades K-12 23 students 5.6 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed 100% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-12 245 students 5.3 students per teacher Christian (nondenominational) Co-ed 100% to 4-year college
Grades K-10 36 students 9 students per teacher Baptist Co-ed
Grades K-12 305 students 10.2 students per teacher Christian (nondenominational) Co-ed 42% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-12 176 students 10.4 students per teacher Christian (nondenominational) Co-ed 0% to 4-year college
St. Joseph School
9 mi Grades PreK-8 162 students 9.5 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 17 students 5.7 students per teacher Baptist Co-ed
Grades PreK-12 14 students 3.5 students per teacher Assembly of God Co-ed 0% to 4-year college
Grafton
10 mi Grades 3-12 73 students 5.6 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed 0% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-3 108 students 10.9 students per teacher Christian (nondenominational) Co-ed
Ephesus Junior Academy
11 mi Grades K-8 25 students 12.5 students per teacher Seventh-Day Adventist Co-ed
Grades K-12 25 students 12.5 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed 0% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-12 174 students 8.1 students per teacher Islamic Co-ed 100% to 4-year college
Rise Academy
12 mi Grades 9-12 56 students 7.7 students per teacher Christian (nondenominational) Co-ed 18% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-8 101 students 5.8 students per teacher Episcopal Co-ed
Private schools
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What Virginia pays, and what that leaves you
Virginia Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits Tax-credit scholarship
Up to the state share of per-pupil public school funding where you live The ceiling differs by school division. Students with disabilities at licensed special education schools can receive up to three times that share. In fiscal 2025, 5,336 scholarships were reported against $15.3 million in donor credits.
Figures read from each program’s official pages, October 2, 2026. Sources and how to apply
What would you pay?
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Tuition and fees EISTC pays You pay per year Spread over 10 months
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Keep looking
- Christian schools in Chester (10)
- Special education schools in Chester (3)
- Private high schools in Chester (11)
- Private elementary schools in Chester (18)
- Private middle schools in Chester (14)
- Private schools with kindergarten in Chester (16)
- Private schools with pre-K in Chester (11)
- All schools in Chesterfield County
- All schools in Hopewell City
- All schools in Petersburg City
- All schools in Henrico County
- Private schools in Chesterfield (8 mi)
- Private schools in Richmond (13 mi)
- Private schools in Midlothian (15 mi)
- Private schools in Henrico (18 mi)
- Private schools in Glen Allen (22 mi)
- Private schools in Williamsburg (40 mi)
- Virginia Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits: amount and eligibility
Get one email when applications open
Most programs open once a year, and several ran out of money or seats in 2026. Pick your state (you are looking at Chester) and we will email you the day the next window opens, with the official link. That is the only email you get.
One email per application window. No calls, no sharing your details.
Questions parents ask
How many private schools are there in Chester?
3 private schools give Chester as their address: Primrose at Ironbridge Corner, Goddard School-Rivers Bend and The Lead Center. Counting nearby towns, we list 19: 3 in Chester and 16 within 12 miles of downtown. Together they enrolled about 1,628 students in the last federal survey (2023-24). The largest in Chester is The Lead Center with 42 students. The largest within 12 miles is Richmond Christian School with 305 students.
Which Chester private schools take EISTC?
The Virginia Department of Education shows participating schools only on an interactive map, with no downloadable list. We do not mark Virginia schools. Ask the school whether it takes EISTC scholarships.
Will EISTC cover the whole tuition bill?
Sometimes, but do not count on it. EISTC pays up to the state share of per-pupil public school funding where you live, and schools set their own prices. Ask each school for tuition plus fees, then use the calculator on this page to see what is left for you to pay.