Best Public Schools in Delmar, DE

The city of Delmar, Delaware, is served by the Delmar School District, which operates two schools within the city limits: Delmar Middle School (grades 5–8, 732 students) and Delmar High School (grades 9–12, 713 students), with no elementary schools located directly in the city.

These two schools present contrasting profiles. Delmar High School is the standout for improvement, rebounding from a 2-star rating (27th of 41 schools) in 2024–2025 to a 3-star rating (16th of 41) in 2025–2026—an 11-position jump. Its ELA proficiency surged from 37.0% to 49.7%, now above the state average, and math improved to 19.0%. However, the high school struggles with chronic absenteeism at 28.5%, nearly double the state average, and its SAT essay and science scores remain below state levels. In contrast, Delmar Middle School shows steady but modest gains, moving from a 2-star to a 3-star rating, yet it remains in the lower half of Delaware middle schools (53rd percentile). Its 7th graders perform best across subjects, but 8th grade shows a sharp decline—social studies drops 33 points (61.5% to 28.4%) and science proficiency falls to just 11.8%. Math is a persistent weakness at both schools, with middle school proficiency ranging from 23.5% to 31.7% and high school math at only 19%.

Despite these school-level challenges, the Delmar School District ranks 8th of 34 districts (76th percentile) with a 4-star rating, suggesting elementary schools outside the city limits are strong performers. The high school's graduation rate is excellent at 93.8%, well above the state average, and per-student spending is higher at the high school ($11,342) than the middle school ($9,600). The district's overall strength, combined with the high school's dramatic turnaround, offers promise, but addressing math proficiency, 8th-grade declines, and high school absenteeism will be key to sustained improvement.