Best Public Schools in Zip Code 19963

Zip code 19963 in Milford, DE, is served by five schools in the Milford School District, including three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, enrolling roughly 4,085 students.

For parents, the standout choice in this area is Ross (Lulu M.) Elementary School, the only school in the district to earn a 3-star rating. It outperforms its nearby counterpart, Mispillion Elementary, by more than 20 percentage points in most subjects, despite similar spending and class sizes. For example, Ross posts 43.87% proficiency in 3rd grade ELA versus Mispillion's 22.55%. The middle school, Milford Central Academy, shows a bright spot in 8th grade ELA (43.63%), which beats the state average, but struggles in math and science. The biggest concern is Milford Senior High School, which holds a 1-star rating and sits in the 20th percentile statewide. Its 11th grade math proficiency is critically low at just 6.16%, and the dropout rate of 7.1% is nearly double the state average.

Chronic absenteeism appears to be a key factor, as the two highest-performing schools—Ross Elementary (13.0%) and Milford Central Academy (10.4%)—have the lowest rates, while Banneker (Benjamin) Elementary School (18.5%) and Mispillion (20.4%) lag behind. Resource allocation does not explain the gaps, as Banneker spends the most per student ($12,813) yet performs poorly. Overall, the district ranks 21st out of 34 in Delaware, with declining scores across most subjects. While Ross proves high achievement is possible, families should be aware of the systemic math struggles and high school readiness issues that define this area.