High Plains Alternative School - Chester Virtual School

06/02/2026

We have officially ended the 2025-2026 school year and are looking forward to 2026-2027 (after a little break though 😉). I believe our official graduate count for the year is 25!! 👩‍🎓👨‍🎓 25 individual stories of determination, perseverance, hard work, and bright futures. We have had early graduates, one time graduates, and graduates who faced challenges but never gave up on their dream of a diploma.

If you know a student who is needing a different approach to school, please reach out to see if High Plains is the answer! We educate students in 9-12th grade, from ages 14-21. If you are just starting your high school career, or you fell a few credits short your senior year, reach out! We might be able to help!

We educate students from all over South Dakota, not just locally. Oh! And did I mention we are a state school? This means once your open enrollment is accepted, there is ZERO cost to you as you become a member of our parent district.

Reach out with questions! You can message the page, or contact our superintendent by calling 605-489-2411 or emailing: [email protected]

05/15/2026

Today was the day for diplomas! We had a wonderful problem.... Too big of a crowd to hold our graduation inside. ❤️ Thankfully, South Dakota weather cooperated and we celebrated 12 of our 25 graduates today! Others will be walking tomorrow at the Chester High School graduation, while others have quietly received their diplomas during the year with a celebration picture, and others still quietly collect it escaping the camera. No matter how they choose to accept their diploma, the feelings of pride remain the same. The future is bright! This is just the beginning! 🎓💐👨‍🎓👩‍🎓🎉

05/04/2026

Just jumping on here for some pearls of wisdom for 2027 graduates. If you are planning to attend college or tech school, you do NOT have to wait until you are completely done to apply. Some tech programs fill very fast, so applying early is crucial to secure your spot. They will accept you contingent on you finishing your schooling, along with other application requirements.

Another tidbit for you is that colleges and tech schools require an official transcript. This means it needs to come directly from the school to them. All you need to do is reach out to Chester High School and ask the wonderful administrative assistant to send the school an official transcript to the school(s) you are applying to.

Reach out with any questions! Here's to the bright futures of our HPAP students!

04/27/2026

What sets us apart from other online programs? Real people! We offer both onsite and online education options, however, even if you are an online student (like one of the students in the picture), our teachers will welcome the opportunity to work face to face to help you through any material challenging you.

03/15/2026

Two hour late start tomorrow, March 16th. Stay safe!

02/12/2026

No school tomorrow, February 13th, or Monday, February 16th. Enjoy the long weekend!

02/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ASXC9LQxL/

Internet Safety Parent/Community Presentation March 10th 5:30 pm

02/05/2026

No school tomorrow, February 6th, due to teacher in-service! Enjoy the long weekend!

02/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AYTPaBybD/

I mean, I wouldn't mind! ;)

Just wondering, what is your go to coffee order? What do you drink if you’re making it at home?

01/25/2026

Two hour late start tomorrow, January 26th, due to extreme morning temperatures.