📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 16 Districts Delaware
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cape Henlopen School District | Millsboro | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #2 | Appoquinimink School District | Middletown | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #3 | Caesar Rodney School District | Dover Afb | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #4 | Indian River School District | Bethany Beach | 8/10 Good | 78th |
| #5 | Red Clay Consolidated School District | Newark | 8/10 Good | 72th |
| #6 | Delmar School District | Delmar | 7/10 Good | 66th |
| #7 | Brandywine School District | Claymont | 6/10 Average | 59th |
| #8 | Seaford School District | Seaford | 6/10 Average | 53th |
| #9 | Lake Forest School District | Felton | 5/10 Average | 47th |
| #10 | Smyrna School District | Clayton | 5/10 Average | 41th |
| #11 | Woodbridge School District | Bridgeville | 4/10 Below Average | 34th |
| #12 | Christina School District | Newark | 3/10 Below Average | 28th |
| #13 | Laurel School District | Bethel | 3/10 Below Average | 22th |
| #14 | Milford School District | Ellendale | 2/10 Poor | 16th |
| #15 | Capital School District | Dover | 1/10 Poor | 9th |
| #16 | Colonial School District | Bear | 1/10 Poor | 3th |
Best School Districts in Delaware (2026)
This ranking covers 16 rated public school districts in Delaware, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data (2021–22 for 90% of districts, 2017–18 fallback for the rest). Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Delaware School Districts at a Glance
- 16 of the 19 regular school districts operating in Delaware have a published rating on this site.
- 5 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from NCES EDFacts, and every district is ranked against other districts in Delaware only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Cape Henlopen School District in Millsboro, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in Delaware is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Delaware? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 or 2017–18 fallback), the top-rated district is Cape Henlopen School District in Millsboro, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Delaware? ▼
Delaware has 19 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 16 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Delaware school district ratings based on? ▼
NCES EDFacts. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Delaware and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Delaware are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
5 of the 16 rated districts in Delaware score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Delaware, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in Delaware? ▼
In Delaware nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; Delaware is not one of them.