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Mariner Middle School

Q: Is Mariner Middle School a good school?

Mariner Middle School ranks 18 th of 59 Delaware middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

18^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 59 Delaware Middle Schools

Better than 69% of Delaware middle schools

Summary

Mariner Middle School in Milton, DE, serves 552 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of the highly regarded Cape Henlopen School District, which ranks 3rd out of 34 districts in Delaware. The school consistently performs above the state average, earning a 4-star rating and ranking 18th out of 59 middle schools statewide in the most recent school year.

One of the most interesting things about Mariner is how it compares to schools around it. Within its own district, Mariner is the lowest-performing middle school—its counterparts, Frederick D Thomas Middle School and Beacon Middle School, rank 9th and 10th in the state, respectively. For example, in 7th-grade English, Mariner's proficiency rate was 48%, while Beacon reached 76%. However, when compared to schools outside its district, Mariner is a clear leader. In 8th-grade math, Mariner's proficiency rate of 41% is nearly double that of Seaford Middle School (22%) and more than double that of Woodbridge Middle School (15%). This means Mariner is a strong choice for families in the area, even if it doesn't quite match its district peers.

There are a few other things parents should know. Mariner has a notable strength in serving students from low-income backgrounds—this subgroup ranked 14th out of 46 schools statewide, earning a 4-star rating. Science is also a bright spot, with 8th-grade proficiency rates nearly double the state average. However, chronic absenteeism is a concern: 21.4% of students were chronically absent, higher than the district average of 15.6%. The school also has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.7, suggesting that resources are available, but attendance may be holding the school back from reaching its full potential. Overall, Mariner is a solid, above-average school that offers a good education, especially for its most vulnerable students.

552

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,633

Per pupil spending ?

34.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

16391 Harbeson Rd
Milton, DE 19968

(302) 685-8516

District: Cape Henlopen School District

Students who attend Mariner Middle School usually attend:

High:

Cape Henlopen High School

Feeder schools for Mariner Middle School:

Elementary:	H. O. Brittingham Elementary School
	Milton Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

54.7%

Hispanic:

27.4%

African American:

11.1%

See top rated Delaware middle schools

Compare Mariner Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 71st percentile in 2016 → 69th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Delaware average (43% vs 38% meeting standards)

✓Above the Delaware median (69th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school43%

District avg53%

Delaware avg38%

18^th of 59

Delaware public middle schools ?

Top 31%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Delaware Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Middle Schools in the Cape Henlopen School District

3^rd of 34Cape Henlopen School District among Delaware districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	62.8	18 of 59	69.5%	★★★★☆
2025	57.4	20 of 59	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.2	17 of 54	68.5%	★★★★☆
2023	59.0	18 of 53	66.0%	★★★★☆
2022	64.4	14 of 51	72.5%	★★★★☆
2021	59.3	15 of 47	68.1%	★★★★☆
2019	57.8	20 of 52	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.8	15 of 35	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	70.7	10 of 35	71.4%	★★★★☆
2016	70.2	10 of 35	71.4%	★★★★☆
2015	66.6	14 of 49	71.4%	★★★★☆
2013	56.9	19 of 37	48.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	49.0	24 of 38	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	46.5	22 of 38	42.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2024	70.5	7 of 42	83.3%	★★★★☆
2019	46.4	24 of 44	45.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	57.6	19 of 53	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.8	22 of 55	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.0	18 of 49	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.5	23 of 50	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.8	15 of 50	70.0%	★★★★☆
2021	49.8	16 of 38	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.9	24 of 49	51.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	46.0	24 of 42	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.0	21 of 42	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	36.8	24 of 37	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.3	24 of 37	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.0	17 of 37	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.5	7 of 18	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.3	15 of 35	57.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	55.3	14 of 46	69.6%	★★★★☆
2025	49.5	18 of 48	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.3	9 of 39	76.9%	★★★★☆
2023	48.4	16 of 40	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.3	15 of 38	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.1	6 of 19	68.4%	★★★★☆
2019	64.5	10 of 41	75.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	59.7	19 of 53	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.4	21 of 55	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.2	16 of 49	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.5	16 of 50	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.3	15 of 50	70.0%	★★★★☆
2021	62.4	11 of 38	71.1%	★★★★☆
2019	62.5	17 of 49	65.3%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	40.7	12 of 23	47.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.5	3 of 9	66.7%	★★★★☆
2023	39.7	5 of 5	0.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.5	5 of 9	44.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.5	4 of 9	55.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	65.5	16 of 46	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.7	20 of 47	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.0	18 of 45	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.4	15 of 44	65.9%	★★★★☆
2022	72.1	12 of 45	73.3%	★★★★☆
2021	69.9	11 of 41	73.2%	★★★★☆
2019	63.8	17 of 43	60.5%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2024)83rd percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)70th percentile~ school

White (2026)65th percentile-4 vs school

Female (2026)64th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2026)64th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2026)48th percentile-22 vs school

Hispanic (2026)43rd percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs Delaware (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies50%~ state avg

English Language Arts49%+7 vs state

Mathematics37%+6 vs state

Science28%+12 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, May 16, 2013

Mariner is a different school than it was years ago. The Admin staff have clearly made a difference. They have a wonderful active PTO. Teachers and staff are happy and it shows. The school looks great with positive saying posted all around the school. They encourage self respect by treating the students with self respect. The building itself feels comfortable and promotes a learning environment. My son in now in eighth grade. After spending all three years in Mariner Middle I can say I am completely happy with his whole experience. I am confident that he is ready for High School. I would recommend Mariner over Beacon anytime. Close Quote

Schools Near Mariner Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				DeSSA Science (2026)	DeSSA Social Studies (2026)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2026)			Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2016)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	DeSSA Science 8th Grade	DeSSA Social Studies 6th Grade	DeSSA Social Studies 7th Grade	DeSSA Social Studies 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
Mariner Middle School	Public	6-8	16391 Harbeson Rd	Milton	19968	Sussex County	Cape Henlopen School District	No	No	No	No	(302) 685-8516	552	47	11.7	34.9%	302 (54.7%)	61 (11.1%)	151 (27.4%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (6.0%)	62.8	18^th of 59 public middle schools	69.5%		57.4	20^th of 59 public middle schools	66.1%	2	28.5	52.9	52.4	44.6	49.1	48.2	48.4	38.2	32.1	41.4	$21,633
Georgetown Middle School	Public	6-8	301 West Market Street	Georgetown	19947	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 856-1900	861	59	14.5	43.6%	184 (21.4%)	88 (10.2%)	556 (64.6%)	3 (0.3%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (2.9%)	47.2	27^th of 59 public middle schools	54.2%		48	25^th of 59 public middle schools	57.6%	2	11.8	51.6	64.5	28.6	38.7	49.6	30.5	31.7	43.1	25.5	$20,206
Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence	Public, Charter	6-9	20346 Ennis St	Georgetown	19947	Sussex County	Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(302) 556-3297	208	5	41.6		118 (56.7%)	44 (21.2%)	19 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (11.1%)	16.3	49^th of 59 public middle schools	16.9%					(n/a)			32.6	28.1		15.9	32.4
Frederick D Thomas Middle School	Public	6-8	1270 Kings Highway	Lewes	19958	Sussex County	Cape Henlopen School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(302) 645-6686	451	27	16.7		304 (67.4%)	31 (6.9%)	66 (14.6%)	12 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (8.2%)	86.9	9^th of 59 public middle schools	84.7%					(n/a)	28.6	61.8	75.3	50.0	65.5	66.7	61.3	54.6	60.6	51.6	$30,746
Beacon Middle School	Public	6-8	19483 John J. Williams Highway	Lewes	19958	Sussex County	Cape Henlopen School District	No	No	No	No	(302) 645-6288	427	40	10.6	28.6%	313 (73.3%)	26 (6.1%)	51 (11.9%)	8 (1.9%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.6%)	86.7	10^th of 59 public middle schools	83.1%		88.6	8^th of 59 public middle schools	86.4%	2	24.9	61.8	75.4	48.7	62.3	75.9	72.5	53.4	64.7	50.6	$26,240
Sussex Central Middle	Public	6-8	26026 Patriots Way	Georgetown	19947	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(302) 934-3166	0																		(n/a)	9.3	48.7	56.1	34.4	28.4	36.1	37.1	24.9	31.4	30.2
Milford Central Academy	Public	7-8	1021 N Walnut Street	Milford	19963	Sussex County	Milford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 430-7900	1,013	54	18.7	42.4%	441 (43.5%)	279 (27.5%)	240 (23.7%)	7 (0.7%)	5 (0.5%)	4 (0.4%)	37 (3.7%)	31.3	38^th of 59 public middle schools	35.6%		26	42^nd of 59 public middle schools	28.8%	4	9.5		53.7	20.9		33.6	43.6		21.9	19.9	$14,818
Woodbridge Middle School	Public	6-8	307 Laws Street	Bridgeville	19933	Sussex County	Woodbridge School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 337-8289	596	40	14.9	51.2%	280 (47.0%)	116 (19.5%)	173 (29.0%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.5%)	35.7	35^th of 59 public middle schools	40.7%		30.9	37^th of 59 public middle schools	37.3%	2	7.3	50.7	58.9	32.2	31.7	39.5	30.2	26.1	25.3	15.2	$19,297
Seaford Middle School	Public	6-8	500 East Stein Highway	Seaford	19973	Sussex County	Seaford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 629-4587	800	49	16.3	58.0%	187 (23.4%)	298 (37.3%)	259 (32.4%)	9 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	45 (5.6%)	30.9	39^th of 59 public middle schools	33.9%		27.2	40^th of 59 public middle schools	32.2%	1	10.2	37.7	50.4	28.7	32.3	35.4	35.1	24.4	20.6	22.5	$18,593
Chipman (W.T.) Middle School	Public	5-8	101 West Center Street	Harrington	19952	Kent County	Lake Forest School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 398-8197	905	48	18.8	40.4%	502 (55.5%)	214 (23.6%)	84 (9.3%)	13 (1.4%)	8 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (9.3%)	49.6	25^th of 59 public middle schools	57.6%		42.4	31^st of 59 public middle schools	47.5%	6	14.8	50.5	69.5	40.6	36.6	43.5	34.3	32.4	30.7	28.9	$18,729

Frequently Asked Questions about Mariner Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Mariner Middle School?

Students at Mariner Middle School are 55% White, 27% Hispanic, 11% African American, 6% Two or more races.

Is Mariner Middle School a good school?

Mariner Middle School ranks 18^th of 59 Delaware middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Mariner Middle School attend?

Students who attend Mariner Middle School usually go on to attend Cape Henlopen High School

What district is Mariner Middle School in?

Cape Henlopen School District

How many students attend Mariner Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 552 students attended Mariner Middle School.

Rate Mariner Middle School!

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Latest Delaware data All new data »

2025–26 DeSSA, SAT & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresAug 18, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 23, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataJan 20, 2026

2021–22 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 7, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Delaware Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.