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Very Good

#76 of 219 schools in DE

Top 34% in state

Mariner Middle School

Middle School · Cape Henlopen School District

16391 Harbeson Rd, Milton, DE 19968

Enrollment

682

Student-Teacher

13.9:1

Score

7.0

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Delaware schools

#76 of 219

In Milton

#3 of 3

public schools

In district

#8 of 9

Cape Henlopen School District

Equity

7.6 / 10

Very Good

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Mariner Middle School

7.0/10

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

Milton Elementary School

8.2/10

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

H. O. Brittingham Elementary School

9.0/10

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

About Mariner Middle School

Mariner Middle School is a public middle school in Milton, DE, part of Cape Henlopen School District. Mariner Middle School serves approximately 682 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Mariner Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #76 of 219 schools in DE.

Structured state assessment records for Mariner Middle School show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts below district
  • This school 7.0 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.7
  • DE avg 5.8

What Parents Should Know

Mariner Middle School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.1Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-1.68 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.3Very Good35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency40% (2025 DESSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency41.2% (2025 DESSA)
Math vs. State Avg+4.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-7.6 pts
Overall Proficiency41% (2025 DESSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)39% (model expectation from 2025 DESSA)
vs. Expected+1.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile61th
Resources & Environment6.4Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,712
Chronic Absenteeism28.3%

Mariner Middle School — Students at Mariner Middle School score 41% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores DE DESSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 43.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
33.3% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)
ELA Proficiency 55.4% (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
71%
ELA
81%
2010
Math
57%
ELA
59%
2011
Math
70%
ELA
72%
2012
Math
71%
ELA
77%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
79%
2014
Math
43%
ELA
61%
2015
Math
43.4%
ELA
61%
2016
Math
45.9%
ELA
62.9%
2017
Math
47.3%
ELA
60.3%
2018
Math
42%
ELA
58.1%
2019
Math
43.6%
ELA
60.7%
2020*
Math
32%
ELA
48%
2021*
Math
31.9%
ELA
48.7%
2022
Math
35%
ELA
48.2%
2023
Math
37.1%
ELA
40.9%
2024
Math
35.7%
ELA
43.5%
2025
Math
40%
ELA
41.2%

* 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: 7.1/10.

How Mariner Middle School Compares

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

Overall Score
7.0/10
66th percentile in DE
Academic
7.3/10
Very Good
Growth
7.1/10
Very Good
Environment
6.4/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
49 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
28.3%

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

16391 Harbeson Rd, Milton, DE 19968

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Mariner Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Beacon Middle School (rated 8.4/10, 9.5 miles away, in nearby Lewes), which scores notably higher. Another option is Georgetown Middle School (rated 6.8/10, 6.9 miles away, in nearby Georgetown), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Millsboro Middle School (rated 5.5/10, 12.1 miles away, in nearby Millsboro), a more accessible option. For more schools in Milton, see our Milton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 10.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Milton Elementary School Milton 0.5 mi 8.2
H. O. Brittingham Elementary School Milton 1.2 mi 9.0
DELMARVA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS MILTON CAMPUS Milton 3.3 mi 6.8
Sussex Consortium Lewes 4.5 mi 6.2
Sussex Academy Georgetown 5.5 mi 6.5
North Georgetown Elementary School Georgetown 6.2 mi 6.3
Georgetown Elementary School Georgetown 6.9 mi 6.7
Georgetown Middle School Georgetown 6.9 mi 6.8
DELMARVA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Georgetown 7.3 mi 6.3
Ennis (Howard T.) School Georgetown 9.2 mi 4.0
Sussex Central High School Georgetown 9.3 mi 4.8
Morris (Evelyn I.) Early Childhood Lincoln 9.2 mi 6.2
Cape Henlopen High School Lewes 8.8 mi 7.4
Lewes Elementary School Lewes 8.9 mi 7.5
Love Creek Elementary School Lewes 9.2 mi 8.4
Beacon Middle School Lewes 9.5 mi 8.4
Mispillion Elementary Milford 11.2 mi 3.5
Millsboro Middle School Millsboro 12.1 mi 5.5
Ross (Lulu M.) Elementary School Milford 11.3 mi 7.2
Sussex Technical High School Georgetown 10.9 mi 6.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19968 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$81,646

Median Home Value

$418,600

Median Rent

$1,408/mo

Population

14,791

College Educated

40.5%

Homeownership

90.3%

Avg Commute

25.4 min

Poverty Rate

8.4%

Median Age

54

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Laurel Middle School Laurel, DE 6.9
Woodbridge Middle School Bridgeville, DE 6.9
Georgetown Middle School Georgetown, DE 6.8
duPont (Pierre S.) Middle School Wilmington, DE 7.2
Kirk (George V.) Middle School Newark, DE 6.7
Meredith (Everett) Middle School Middletown, DE 6.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mariner Middle School

What grades does Mariner Middle School serve?

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

How many students attend Mariner Middle School?

Mariner Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 682 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Mariner Middle School is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Mariner Middle School rank in DE?

Mariner Middle School ranks #76 of 219 schools in DE.

What is Mariner Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Mariner Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Mariner Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Mariner Middle School has 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Mariner Middle School a charter school?

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

Is Mariner Middle School a Title I school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
22 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
34 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
682
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
49
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Sussex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
28.3%

District

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

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