Indian River School District

The Indian River School District serves about 10,333 students across 15 schools in Sussex County, Delaware, including 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 alternative school, spanning communities like Georgetown, Millsboro, and Selbyville.

For parents, the standout elementary school is Lord Baltimore Elementary School, which ranks in the 84th percentile statewide and posts remarkable proficiency rates—80.23% in 3rd grade math versus a district average of 42.46%. Southern Delaware School of the Arts, a K-8 magnet, is the most consistent performer, exceeding district averages in nearly every subject and grade, with 7th grade social studies at 71.74% proficiency. At the middle school level, Selbyville Middle School leads the district, ranking 17th out of 59 middle schools statewide, with 7th grade ELA proficiency at 64.54% compared to the district's 50.88%. For high schools, Indian River High School is the top traditional option with an 89.3% graduation rate, while Sussex Central High School, the district's largest school, struggles with a 79.3% graduation rate and 33.4% chronic absenteeism.

A key takeaway is that the district's middle schools outperform state averages in 7th grade ELA (50.88% vs. 43.4%) and math (39.27% vs. 31.64%), but this advantage fades by high school, where 11th grade math proficiency drops to just 15.07%. Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide issue at 20.2%, though North Georgetown Elementary School keeps it at 10.3%. Science proficiency is a notable weakness across all schools, with only 14.29% of 8th graders proficient. Finally, per-student spending does not predict performance—Lord Baltimore Elementary spends below the district median yet achieves top results, while Ennis (Howard T.) School, the alternative school, spends $108,338 per student reflecting its specialized mission.