Below Average
#192 of 219 schools in DE
South Dover Elementary School
Elementary School · Capital School District · Dover, DE
A Capital School District elementary school where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.
955 South State Street, Dover, DE 19901
- Math 18% vs DE 40% (2025)
- Reading 21% vs DE 41% (2025)
- 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at South Dover Elementary School score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 27%).
2025 DESSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. DE average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 45 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 20% recently.
Show all 17 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 70 test records from DE state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where South Dover Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 47Car-Dependent
- Transit 40Some Transit
- Bike 48Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High7,102/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Dover), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$63,891
Median home value
$258,400
Median rent
$1,353/mo
College educated
26.6%
Homeownership
54.1%
Poverty rate
16.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 19901; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Cross SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.0private | PK–8 | 0.2 mi | 295 | Compare → |
| Dover First Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.5private | PK–6 | 0.8 mi | 30 | Compare → |
| East Dover Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | K–4 | 1.0 mi | 338 | Compare → |
| Booker T. Washington Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.1 | K–4 | 1.3 mi | 315 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Capital School District
- Schools in district
- 14
- Rank in district
- #11 of 12
- District spending per student
- $26,301NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
South Dover Elementary School is listed in Capital School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About South Dover Elementary School
South Dover Elementary School is a public elementary school in Dover, DE, part of Capital School District, serving approximately 606 students in grades Kindergarten-4th with a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #192 of 219 schools in DE. State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about South Dover Elementary School
What grades does South Dover Elementary School serve?
South Dover Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 4th.
How many students attend South Dover Elementary School?
South Dover Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 606 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Dover Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Dover Elementary School is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does South Dover Elementary School rank in DE?
South Dover Elementary School ranks #192 of 219 schools in DE.
What is South Dover Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
South Dover Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 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 South Dover Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, South Dover Elementary School has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is South Dover Elementary School a charter school?
No, South Dover Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is South Dover Elementary School a Title I school?
No, South Dover Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 4th
- Enrollment
- 606
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Kent County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 25.1%
- Phone
- (302) 672-1980
- Area population (ZIP 19901)
- 39,149
- Area average commute
- 22.6 min
- Area median age
- 32.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 DESSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 DESSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 DESSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 DESSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 19901; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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