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Excellent

#18 of 219 schools in DE

Top 8% in state

Beacon Middle School

Middle School · Cape Henlopen School District

19483 John J. Williams Highway, Lewes, DE 19958

Enrollment

705

Student-Teacher

14.1:1

Score

8.4

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Delaware schools

#18 of 219

In Lewes

#1 of 5

public schools

In district

#2 of 9

Cape Henlopen School District

Academic performance

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Beacon Middle School

8.4/10

Middle School in Lewes · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Love Creek Elementary School

8.4/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Cape Henlopen High School

7.4/10

3.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Beacon Middle School

Beacon Middle School is a public middle school in Lewes, DE, part of Cape Henlopen School District. Beacon Middle School serves approximately 705 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Beacon Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #18 of 219 schools in DE.

Structured state assessment records for Beacon Middle School show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 8.4 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.7
  • DE avg 5.8

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-0.78 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.6Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency55.8% (2025 DESSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency71.1% (2025 DESSA)
Math vs. State Avg+20.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+22.3 pts
Overall Proficiency63% (2025 DESSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)39% (model expectation from 2025 DESSA)
vs. Expected+24.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile93th
Resources & Environment6.2Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,712
Chronic Absenteeism29.8%

Beacon Middle School — Students at Beacon Middle School score 63% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores DE DESSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 63.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
33.3% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)
ELA Proficiency 71.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
46.8% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)

Based on 90 test records from DE state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
86%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
90%
ELA
91%
2012
Math
89%
ELA
89%
2013
Math
90%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
65%
ELA
70%
2015
Math
64.3%
ELA
70.4%
2016
Math
66.3%
ELA
72.6%
2017
Math
68.3%
ELA
69.7%
2018
Math
63.7%
ELA
69.7%
2019
Math
66.9%
ELA
74.6%
2020*
Math
49%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
49.5%
ELA
61.9%
2022
Math
54.1%
ELA
67.5%
2023
Math
57.5%
ELA
68.5%
2024
Math
56.1%
ELA
69.1%
2025
Math
55.9%
ELA
71.1%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.8/10.

How Beacon Middle School Compares

See how Beacon Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.4/10
92th percentile in DE
Academic
9.6/10
Excellent
Growth
8.8/10
Excellent
Environment
6.2/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
50 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
29.8%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

19483 John J. Williams Highway, Lewes, DE 19958

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Beacon Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Mariner Middle School (rated 7.0/10, 9.5 miles away, in nearby Milton), a more accessible option. Additionally, Millsboro Middle School (rated 5.5/10, 11.4 miles away, in nearby Millsboro), a more accessible option. For more schools in Lewes, see our Lewes schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 12.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Love Creek Elementary School Lewes 0.2 mi 8.4
Cape Henlopen High School Lewes 3.0 mi 7.4
Lewes Elementary School Lewes 3.7 mi 7.5
Rehoboth Elementary School Rehoboth Beach 3.3 mi 8.2
Sussex Consortium Lewes 5.1 mi 6.2
Long Neck Elementary School Millsboro 6.1 mi 4.9
DELMARVA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS MILTON CAMPUS Milton 9.5 mi 6.8
Mariner Middle School Milton 9.5 mi 7.0
Milton Elementary School Milton 9.8 mi 8.2
Lord Baltimore Elementary School Ocean View 12.0 mi 8.3
H. O. Brittingham Elementary School Milton 10.2 mi 9.0
East Millsboro Elementary School Millsboro 11.3 mi 4.3
Millsboro Middle School Millsboro 11.4 mi 5.5
Indian River High School Dagsboro 12.7 mi 6.1
Ennis (Howard T.) School Georgetown 11.0 mi 4.0
Sussex Central High School Georgetown 11.2 mi 4.8
Clayton (John M.) Elementary School Frankford 13.2 mi 6.8
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Dagsboro 13.2 mi 7.2
Sussex Academy Georgetown 11.9 mi 6.5
DELMARVA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Georgetown 12.4 mi 6.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19958 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$91,445

Median Home Value

$488,900

Median Rent

$1,654/mo

Population

29,599

College Educated

49.2%

Homeownership

83%

Avg Commute

25.3 min

Poverty Rate

6.5%

Median Age

61.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
duPont (H.B.) Middle School Hockessin, DE 8.4
Talley Middle School Wilmington, DE 8.0
Cantwells Bridge Middle School Townsend, DE 7.7
Selbyville Middle School Selbyville, DE 7.7
Shue-Medill Middle School Newark, DE 7.7
Waters (Alfred G.) Middle School Middletown, DE 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Beacon Middle School

What grades does Beacon Middle School serve?

Beacon Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Beacon Middle School?

Beacon Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 705 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Beacon Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Beacon Middle School is 14.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Beacon Middle School rank in DE?

Beacon Middle School ranks #18 of 219 schools in DE.

What is Beacon Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Beacon Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Beacon Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Beacon Middle School has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Beacon Middle School a charter school?

No, Beacon Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Beacon Middle School a Title I school?

No, Beacon Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
13 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
30 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
705
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
50
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
Sussex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
29.8%

District

Cape Henlopen School District
District Enrollment
6,587
Schools in District
9
Per-Pupil Spending
$20,712
District Rank
#2 of 9

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