Best Schools in Deland, Florida
21 schools · 10 Elementary · 4 Middle · 2 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Deland?
Use this page to compare every school in Deland 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.
Edith I. Starke Elementary School
Elementary · Volusia. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Woodward Avenue Elementary School
Elementary · Volusia. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Freedom Elementary School
Elementary · Volusia. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Deland for 2026 are Edith I. Starke Elementary School (8.1/10), Woodward Avenue Elementary School (7.7/10), and Freedom Elementary School (7.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 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
21
11 public · 10 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$281,850
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
21
11 public · 10 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$281,850
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.7/10 despite 52% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Deland schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Deland
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 rated schools; 21 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edith I. Starke Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Woodward Avenue Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Freedom Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | George W. Marks Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Blue Lake Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Citrus Grove Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Deland High School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Deland Middle School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Southwestern Middle School | 4.5 / 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
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $70,121
- Median home value
- $281,850
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 27%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 73%
50% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Deland compares
Florida rank
#75 of 286
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Florida avg (6.3)
Median household income
$70k
94% of Florida median
Schools in this city
18
Volusia runs Deland's public schools
11 public schools. Volusia is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Deland is a Volusia school (11 of 11).
Among 9 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.5 to 8.1 — the spread is inside Deland, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Deland, Florida
Deland is a mid-sized Florida city with 10 ranked public schools and a city-wide average score of 6.4 out of 10. The range is encouraging: 4 of those 10 schools (40%) score 7.0 or above, giving parents a meaningful cluster of strong options across multiple grade levels.
Elementary school is where Deland performs brightest. Woodward Avenue Elementary leads the city at 7.6 — the highest score of any ranked school here. Citrus Grove Elementary follows at 7.4, and Blue Lake Elementary clears the 7.0 mark as well. George W. Marks Elementary sits just below at 6.9, a half-point above the city average and a strong performer in its own right. Four of Deland's top five schools are elementary campuses, which matters for families planning a long-term trajectory from the start.
The middle school picture offers one clear standout: Southwestern Middle scores 7.3, well above the 6.4 city average and on par with the leading elementaries. That continuity — high-scoring elementary feeders aligned with a top-tier middle school — is a practical advantage when mapping a K–8 pathway. The remaining schools in the city fall below the 7.0 threshold, pulling the overall average down, but Deland's floor still leaves families with real choices rather than a narrow one.
For parents comparing options, the priority is straightforward: Deland's top 40% are genuinely competitive, anchored by Woodward Avenue's 7.6. District assignment zones control access, so your first move is mapping your home address to the relevant attendance boundaries. Families with residential flexibility should weight proximity to the 7.0-and-above cluster, which spans both elementary and middle grades and represents the strongest concentration of high-rated schools in the city.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 282 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 | ||
| 2 | 469 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 | ||
| 3 | 748 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 | ||
| 4 | 787 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 | ||
| 5 | 525 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 | ||
| 6 | 825 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 184 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | St Peter Catholic SchoolPrivate 218 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 41 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | St Barnabas Episcopal SchoolPrivate 356 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,063 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 | ||
| 2 | 704 students · 6th–8th | 4.5 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | T.o.p AcademyPrivate 15 students · 1st–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | T.o.p. AcademyPrivate 14 students · 1st–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,869 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Deland Preparatory AcademyPrivate 101 students · 5th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 61 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.2 | ||
| 2 | 5 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 77 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 73 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Casa MontessoriPrivate 81 students · Pre-K–9th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Deland
Deland, Florida · 21 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$70,121
Median Home Value
$281,850
Median Rent
$1,181/mo
Population
78,248
College Educated
27%
Homeownership
73%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
13.2%
Community Profile
Deland has a median household income of $70,121. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $281,850, with a median rent of $1,181/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.2%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Florida
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 2
- Other
- 5
Resources
School District
Other Major Cities in Florida
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 Deland, Florida
How many schools are in Deland, Florida?
Deland has 21 schools, including 11 public and 10 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Deland, Florida?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Deland is 6.7 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 Deland, Florida?
The top-ranked school in Deland on MySchoolScout is Edith I. Starke Elementary School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Deland, Florida?
The top-ranked elementary school in Deland on MySchoolScout is Edith I. Starke Elementary School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Deland, Florida?
The top-ranked middle school in Deland on MySchoolScout is Deland Middle School with a composite score of 6.0/10.
What is the best high school in Deland, Florida?
The top-ranked high school in Deland on MySchoolScout is Deland High School with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve Deland, Florida?
Deland is served by 1 school district: Volusia.
What is the education level in Deland, Florida?
According to Census data, 27% of adults in Deland have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Deland, Florida?
The median household income in Deland is approximately $70,121 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Deland, Florida?
Yes, Deland has 10 private schools alongside 11 public schools. The top-rated private school is Stetson Baptist Christian School with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Deland, Florida?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Deland is 12.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Deland, Florida?
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, Florida Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.