Best Schools in Dover, Delaware
30 schools · 15 Elementary · 8 Middle · 3 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Dover?
Use this page to compare every school in Dover by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Major George S. Welch Elementary School
Elementary · Caesar Rodney School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Dover Air Force Base Middle School
Middle · Caesar Rodney School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Dover First Christian School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Dover for 2026 are Major George S. Welch Elementary School (8.4/10), Dover Air Force Base Middle School (8.3/10), and Dover First Christian School (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 27 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
30
19 public · 11 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$269,700
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
30
19 public · 11 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$269,700
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Dover
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (27 of 30). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Major George S. Welch Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Dover Air Force Base Middle School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Dover First Christian School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Kent County Secondary Ilc | 7.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Calvary Christian Academy | 7.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Fairview Elementary School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Central De Christian Academy | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Campus Community School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Holy Cross School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Academy of Dover Charter School | 5.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.3/10
- Median household income
- $65,388
- Median home value
- $269,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 27%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
18% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Dover compares
Delaware rank
#20 of 23
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.0
below Delaware avg (6.3)
Median household income
$65k
76% of Delaware median
Schools in this city
28
About Schools in Dover, Delaware
Dover's public school landscape spans 19 ranked schools with an average score of 5.4 out of 10 — a baseline that tells parents to research individual schools rather than count on district-wide consistency. Only 3 of those 19 schools, 16% of the ranked total, score 7 or above, which makes those top performers meaningful signals in an otherwise uneven field.
At the top sits Kent County Secondary ILC, a high school scoring 8.0 out of 10 — Dover's strongest-performing ranked school by a clear margin. Kent County Community School follows at 7.3, and Major George S. Welch Elementary rounds out the top tier at 7.2. These three schools sit more than a full point above the city average and represent the clearest options for families prioritizing academic performance.
The middle of the range shows more variation. Dover Air Force Base Middle School scores 6.6, placing it above the 5.4 city average. Dover High School scores 6.4 — above average, but trailing the county-run schools that anchor the top of the list.
For parents new to Dover, the practical read is this: the city average of 5.4 masks real performance gaps across 19 schools. Top-tier options are concentrated — just three schools at 7.0 or above — so school choice and attendance boundaries matter more here than in cities with more evenly distributed strong performers. Families with elementary-age children should look closely at Welch. Families navigating high school decisions should compare Kent County Secondary ILC and Dover High directly. Students who may qualify for specialized or alternative programming should put the county-run schools at the top of the visit list — they hold Dover's two highest scores and pull the greatest distance from the city average.
Elementary Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 362 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 |
| 2 | 273 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.7 |
| 3 | 403 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.3 |
| 4 | 415 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.9 |
| 5 | 338 students · Kindergarten–4th | 5.9 |
| 6 | 329 students · Kindergarten–4th | 5.6 |
| 7 | 512 students · 1st–5th | 5.3 |
| 8 | 512 students · 1st–5th | 5.3 |
| 9 | 315 students · Kindergarten–4th | 5.1 |
| 10 | 340 students · Kindergarten–4th | 4.6 |
Show all 15 elementary schools in Dover
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 132 students · 6th–8th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 481 students · 5th–5th | 4.8 | ||
| Private Schools 6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Wileys School
Private
33 students · 1st–8th | 4.3 | ||
| 2 | Cedar Grove Amish School
Private
35 students · 1st–8th | 2.9 | ||
| 3 | Rose Valley School
Private
30 students · 1st–8th | 2.8 | ||
| 4 | Honeysuckle Knoll School
Private
33 students · 1st–8th | 2.7 | ||
| 5 | Green Hill
Private
42 students · 1st–8th | 2.6 | ||
| 6 | Apple Grove School
Private
25 students · 1st–8th | — | ||
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 86 students · 6th–12th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 1,867 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 |
| 3 | 533 students · 7th–12th | 5.1 |
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 273 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | 129 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 3.5 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Calvary Christian Academy
Private
266 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | Capitol Baptist School
Private
26 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
Schools in Dover
Dover, Delaware · 30 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$65,388
Median Home Value
$269,700
Median Rent
$1,297/mo
Population
77,274
College Educated
27%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
15.5%
Community Profile
Dover has a median household income of $65,388. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $269,700, with a median rent of $1,297/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.5%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Delaware
- Elementary
- 15
- Middle
- 8
- High
- 3
- Other
- 4
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Delaware
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Dover, Delaware
How many schools are in Dover, Delaware?
Dover has 30 schools, including 19 public and 11 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Dover, Delaware?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Dover is 5.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Dover, Delaware?
The top-ranked school in Dover on MySchoolScout is Major George S. Welch Elementary School with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Dover, Delaware?
The top-ranked elementary school in Dover on MySchoolScout is Major George S. Welch Elementary School with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Dover, Delaware?
The top-ranked middle school in Dover on MySchoolScout is Dover Air Force Base Middle School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best high school in Dover, Delaware?
The top-ranked high school in Dover on MySchoolScout is Kent County Secondary Ilc with a composite score of 7.1/10.
How many school districts serve Dover, Delaware?
Dover is served by 5 school districts: Campus Community School, Academy of Dover Charter School, Early College High School at Del State, Caesar Rodney School District, Capital School District.
What is the education level in Dover, Delaware?
According to Census data, 27% of adults in Dover have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Dover, Delaware?
The median household income in Dover is approximately $65,388 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Dover, Delaware?
Yes, Dover has 11 private schools alongside 19 public schools. The top-rated private school is Dover First Christian School with a score of 7.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Dover, Delaware?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Dover is 17.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Dover, Delaware?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Delaware Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.