Best Elementary Schools in Delaware (2025-26)

Ranked elementary schools

110

Listed, not ranked

Every ranked elementary school in Delaware, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.

Delaware rankings: High Schools · Middle Schools · Elementary Schools

Delaware elementary schools ranked

Rank	Grade	School	City	District	Actual	Projected	Impact	Students
#1	A+	Major George S Welch Elementary School	Dover	Caesar Rodney School District	65%	37%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	353
#2	A+	Cedar Lane Elementary School	Middletown	Appoquinimink School District	64%	62%	Meets Expectations	600
#3	A+	North Star Elementary School	Hockessin	Red Clay Consolidated School District	62%	76%	Underperforms Expectations	610
#4	A+	Loss Olive B Elementary School	Bear	Appoquinimink School District	61%	61%	Meets Expectations	576
#5	A+	Wilson Etta J Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	60%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	267
#6	A+	Linden Hill Elementary School	Wilmington	Red Clay Consolidated School District	58%	66%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	555
#7	A+	Townsend Elementary School	Townsend	Appoquinimink School District	58%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	432
#8	A+	Love Creek Elementary School	Lewes	Cape Henlopen School District	57%	59%	Meets Expectations	643
#9	A+	William F Cooke JR Elementary	Hockessin	Red Clay Consolidated School District	57%	64%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	621
#10	A	Lake Forest North Elementary School	Felton	Lake Forest School District	57%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	452
#11	A	Allen Frear Elementary School	Camden	Caesar Rodney School District	56%	52%	Exceeds Expectations	672
#12	A	Lord Baltimore Elementary School	Ocean View	Indian River School District	56%	65%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	579
#13	A	W B Simpson Elementary School	Camden	Caesar Rodney School District	56%	42%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	571
#14	A	Claymont Elementary School	Claymont	Brandywine School District	55%	49%	Exceeds Expectations	850
#15	A	Rehoboth Elementary School	Rehoboth Beach	Cape Henlopen School District	55%	59%	Meets Expectations	525
#16	A	Sunnyside Elementary School	Smyrna	Smyrna School District	55%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	538
#17	A	Jones Albert H Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	54%	30%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	301
#18	A	Clayton Intermediate School	Clayton	Smyrna School District	38%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	517
#19	A-	Hanby Elementary School	Wilmington	Brandywine School District	54%	50%	Exceeds Expectations	530
#20	A-	Old State Elementary School	Townsend	Appoquinimink School District	54%	50%	Exceeds Expectations	763
#21	A-	Clayton Elementary School	Clayton	Smyrna School District	53%	41%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	475
#22	A-	Lorewood Grove Elementary School	Middletown	Appoquinimink School District	53%	56%	Meets Expectations	763
#23	A-	West Park Place Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	52%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	319
#24	A-	Lewes Elementary School	Lewes	Cape Henlopen School District	50%	59%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	582
#25	A-	First State Montessori Academy (Charter)	Wilmington	First State Montessori Academy	47%	47%	Meets Expectations	629
#26	A-	Southern Delaware School Of The Arts (Magnet)	Selbyville	Indian River School District	47%	51%	Meets Expectations	456
#27	B+	Forwood Elementary School	Wilmington	Brandywine School District	47%	40%	Exceeds Expectations	351
#28	B+	H O Brittingham Elementary School	Milton	Cape Henlopen School District	47%	43%	Exceeds Expectations	484
#29	B+	David E Robinson Elementary School	Wyoming	Caesar Rodney School District	44%	37%	Exceeds Expectations	522
#30	B+	Milton Elementary School	Milton	Cape Henlopen School District	44%	50%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	556
#31	B+	Providence Creek Academy Charter School (Charter)	Clayton	Providence Creek Academy Charter School	43%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	730
#32	B+	Lancashire Elementary School	Wilmington	Brandywine School District	42%	48%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	514
#33	B+	Marbrook Elementary School	Wilmington	Red Clay Consolidated School District	42%	34%	Exceeds Expectations	399
#34	B+	Smyrna Elementary School	Smyrna	Smyrna School District	42%	33%	Exceeds Expectations	474
#35	B+	Moore John Bassett School	Smyrna	Smyrna School District	33%	29%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	724
#36	B	North Smyrna Elementary School	Smyrna	Smyrna School District	41%	28%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	505
#37	B	Seaford Central Elementary School	Seaford	Seaford School District	41%	28%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	452
#38	B	Keene William B Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	40%	30%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	474
#39	B	Marshall Thurgood Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	40%	43%	Meets Expectations	556
#40	B	Hartly Elementary School	Hartly	Capital School District	39%	34%	Exceeds Expectations	246
#41	B	Frederick Douglass Elementary School	Seaford	Seaford School District	38%	29%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	411
#42	B	Lake Forest Central Elementary School	Felton	Lake Forest School District	38%	41%	Meets Expectations	570
#43	B	Lake Forest East Elementary School	Frederica	Lake Forest School District	38%	41%	Meets Expectations	322
#44	B-	Silver Lake Elementary School	Middletown	Appoquinimink School District	38%	38%	Meets Expectations	602
#45	B-	Lombardy Elementary School	Wilmington	Brandywine School District	36%	41%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	464
#46	B-	Nellie Hughes Stokes Elementary School	Dover	Caesar Rodney School District	36%	36%	Meets Expectations	461
#47	B-	Ross Lulu M Elementary School	Milford	Milford School District	36%	40%	Meets Expectations	668
#48	B-	Showell Phillip C Elementary School	Selbyville	Indian River School District	36%	37%	Meets Expectations	279
#49	B-	Bunker Hill Elementary School	Middletown	Appoquinimink School District	35%	35%	Meets Expectations	655
#50	B-	Lake Forest South Elementary School	Harrington	Lake Forest School District	35%	41%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	379
#51	C+	Brandywine Springs School	Wilmington	Red Clay Consolidated School District	35%	61%	Underperforms Expectations	945
#52	C+	Forest Oak Elementary School	Newark	Red Clay Consolidated School District	35%	28%	Exceeds Expectations	465
#53	C+	Heritage Elementary School	Wilmington	Red Clay Consolidated School District	35%	49%	Underperforms Expectations	476
#54	C+	Booker T Washington Elementary School	Dover	Capital School District	34%	13%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	334
#55	C+	Downes John R Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	34%	38%	Meets Expectations	385
#56	C+	Fairview Elementary School	Dover	Capital School District	34%	20%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	281
#57	C+	Maclary R Elisabeth Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	34%	36%	Meets Expectations	266
#58	C+	Phillis Wheatley Elementary School	Bridgeville	Woodbridge School District	34%	35%	Meets Expectations	581
#59	C	Carrcroft Elementary School	Wilmington	Brandywine School District	34%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	477
#60	C	Brick Mill Elementary School	Middletown	Appoquinimink School District	33%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	451
#61	C	Clayton John M Elementary School	Frankford	Indian River School District	33%	37%	Meets Expectations	481
#62	C	East Millsboro Elementary School	Millsboro	Indian River School District	32%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	815
#63	C	Gallaher Robert S Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	32%	27%	Exceeds Expectations	519
#64	C	Mcvey Joseph M Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	32%	32%	Meets Expectations	330
#65	C	Smith Jennie E Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	31%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	456
#66	C	W Reily Brown Elementary School	Dover	Caesar Rodney School District	31%	28%	Meets Expectations	540
#67	C-	Campus Community School (Charter)	Dover	Campus Community School	31%	20%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	402
#68	C-	Long Neck Elementary School	Millsboro	Indian River School District	30%	34%	Meets Expectations	693
#69	C-	North Dover Elementary School	Dover	Capital School District	29%	27%	Meets Expectations	315
#70	C-	Georgetown Elementary School	Georgetown	Indian River School District	28%	25%	Exceeds Expectations	840
#71	C-	Wilbur Kathleen H Elementary	Bear	Colonial School District	28%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,044
#72	C-	Brookside Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	27%	26%	Meets Expectations	253
#73	C-	Towne Point Elementary School	Dover	Capital School District	27%	20%	Exceeds Expectations	334
#74	C-	Leasure May B Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	26%	24%	Meets Expectations	335
#75	D+	Banneker Benjamin Elementary School	Milford	Milford School District	25%	30%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	484
#76	D+	Star Hill Elementary School	Dover	Caesar Rodney School District	25%	46%	Underperforms Expectations	147
#77	D+	Wilmington Manor Elementary School	New Castle	Colonial School District	24%	22%	Meets Expectations	482
#78	D+	Charter School Of New Castle (Charter)	New Castle	Charter School of New Castle	23%	11%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	752
#79	D+	Harlan David W Elementary School	Wilmington	Brandywine School District	23%	14%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	337
#80	D+	North Georgetown Elementary School	Georgetown	Indian River School District	23%	23%	Meets Expectations	774
#81	D+	Oberle William Elementary School	Bear	Christina School District	23%	15%	Exceeds Expectations	543
#82	D+	Richey Elementary School	Wilmington	Red Clay Consolidated School District	23%	38%	Underperforms Expectations	367
#83	D	Academy Of Dover Charter School (Charter)	Dover	Academy of Dover Charter School	22%	12%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	411
#84	D	Brader Henry M Elementary School	Newark	Christina School District	22%	26%	Meets Expectations	323
#85	D	East Side Charter School (Charter)	Wilmington	East Side Charter School	22%	10%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	472
#86	D	New Castle Elementary School	New Castle	Colonial School District	22%	11%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	407
#87	D	Castle Hills Elementary School	New Castle	Colonial School District	21%	17%	Exceeds Expectations	492
#88	D	Eisenberg Harry O Elementary School	New Castle	Colonial School District	21%	15%	Exceeds Expectations	399
#89	D	Maple Lane Elementary School	Claymont	Brandywine School District	21%	23%	Meets Expectations	363
#90	D	Pleasantville Elementary School	New Castle	Colonial School District	21%	26%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	379
#91	D	William Henry Middle School	Dover	Capital School District	17%	21%	Meets Expectations	857
#92	D-	South Dover Elementary School	Dover	Capital School District	20%	18%	Meets Expectations	610
#93	D-	Laurel Elementary School	Laurel	Laurel School District	19%	32%	Underperforms Expectations	1,124
#94	D-	Lewis William C Dual Language Elementary School	Wilmington	Red Clay Consolidated School District	19%	13%	Exceeds Expectations	371
#95	D-	East Dover Elementary School	Dover	Capital School District	18%	15%	Exceeds Expectations	330
#96	D-	Mispillion Elementary	Milford	Milford School District	18%	27%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	561
#97	D-	Southern Elementary School	New Castle	Colonial School District	18%	26%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	737
#98	D-	Kuumba Academy Charter School (Charter)	Wilmington	Kuumba Academy Charter School	17%	11%	Exceeds Expectations	643
#99	D-	Downie Carrie Elementary School	New Castle	Colonial School District	16%	21%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	353
#100	F	Baltz Austin D Elementary School	Wilmington	Red Clay Consolidated School District	16%	19%	Meets Expectations	528
#101	F	Mote Anna P Elementary School	Wilmington	Red Clay Consolidated School District	15%	20%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	331
#102	F	Academia Antonia Alonso (Charter)	Newark	Academia Antonia Alonso	14%	18%	Meets Expectations	718
#103	F	Sussex Montessori School (Charter)	Seaford	Sussex Montessori School	14%	28%	Underperforms Expectations	403
#104	F	Edison Thomas A Charter School (Charter)	Wilmington	Edison (Thomas A.) Charter School	12%	10%	Meets Expectations	632
#105	F	Johnson Joseph E JR Elementary School	Wilmington	Red Clay Consolidated School District	9%	14%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	284
#106	F	Gateway Charter School (Charter)	Wilmington	Gateway Charter School	8%	13%	Meets Expectations	186
#107	F	Richardson Park Elementary School	Wilmington	Red Clay Consolidated School District	8%	18%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	519
#108	F	Warner Elementary School	Wilmington	Red Clay Consolidated School District	8%	14%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	360
#109	F	The Bayard School	Wilmington	Christina School District	6%	11%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	508
#110	F	The Bancroft School	Wilmington	Christina School District	5%	14%	Meets Expectations	524

How Delaware's elementary schools compare

A: 26B: 24C: 24D: 25F: 11

45% of the 110 ranked elementary schools in Delaware earn an A or B (26 A grades, 24 B, 24 C, 25 D, 11 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 80 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (73% here, 70% nationally), and 44 exceed it. On average 34% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 34% (national averages: 46% actual, 37% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Major George S Welch Elementary School (65% against 37%, A+), Jones Albert H Elementary School (54% against 30%, A), Booker T Washington Elementary School (34% against 13%, C+), Wilson Etta J Elementary School (60% against 45%, A+), Townsend Elementary School (58% against 43%, A+).

Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 28): Appoquinimink School District (5), Cape Henlopen School District (4), Caesar Rodney School District (3), Red Clay Consolidated School District (3).

Cities with the most ranked elementary schools: Wilmington (24, 7 at A or B), Newark (15, 5 at A or B), Dover (13, 2 at A or B), New Castle (8, 0 at A or B), Middletown (5, 4 at A or B).

The largest ranked elementary schools: Laurel Elementary School (1,124 students, D-, #93), Wilbur Kathleen H Elementary (1,044 students, C-, #71), Brandywine Springs School (945 students, C+, #51).

Of the top 25, 0 are magnet schools and 1 is a charter. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.

Elementary schools in Delaware that are not ranked

9 graded elementary schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.

Not yet graded (9)

Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.

Blades Elementary School, Blades
Brick Mill Early Childhood Center, Middletown
Kent Elementary Intensive Learning Center, Camden
Morris Evelyn I Early Childhood Lincoln, Lincoln
North Laurel Early Learning Academy, Laurel
Shortlidge Evan G Academy, Wilmington
Stubbs Early Education Center, Wilmington
West Seaford Elementary School, Seaford
Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center, Greenwood

About this ranking

Scope: every public elementary school in Delaware.
Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the elementary schools.
Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works

Questions about elementary schools in Delaware

What is the best elementary school in Delaware?

Major George S Welch Elementary School in Dover ranks first among the 110 ranked elementary schools in Delaware with a SchoolGrade of A+, 65% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 37%.

How are elementary schools in Delaware ranked?

By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.

How many elementary schools does Delaware have?

SchoolGrade grades 119 public elementary schools in Delaware; 110 are ranked here and 9 are listed as not ranked.