Delaware may be the second smallest state in the nation, as well as the second least populous, but it is home to an inordinate number of excellent school districts serving its affluent populace.

Each of Delaware’s three counties is represented in the list of the state’s top ten best school districts, with New Castle-based districts accounting for five, Sussex districts totaling three, and two based in Kent.

The exquisitely-named Appoquinimink School District ranks as Delaware’s best, overall. The fast growing district adds schools at the rate some districts add students, with ten opened since 2000. Despite its rapid expansion, Appoquinimink maintains one of the best academic records in the state.

Delaware’s second best school district is the Cape Henlopen School District in Lewes, a city on the Delaware Bay in Sussex County. The district boasts the highest percentage of students to reach the college readiness standard on the SATs in the state.

Ranking third is Caesar Rodney School District, a high achieving school district based in Wyoming, Delaware that’s named after a Revolution-era politician and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Indian River School District places fourth. One of the largest public school districts in Delaware, IRSD serves the southeastern region of Sussex County.

Fifth place Lake Forest School District is based in Kent County and is composed of four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

Did your district make the list?