What are Delaware’s best high schools?
U.S. News & World Report evaluated more than 17,800 public high schools across the country at national, state and local levels.
In Delaware, it ranked 58 high schools. The top contenders are a mix of charter and public high schools from all over the state.
The evaluation focused on six factors including college readiness, reading and math proficiency, reading and math performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth and graduation rates.
Delaware’s top 10 high schools
10. Sussex Technical High School
- Type: public
- Ranked No. 4,241 nationally
- Student enrollment of 1,239
- Overall score of 76.23
- College readiness score of 20.2
9. Concord High School
- Type: public
- Ranked No. 4,076 nationally
- Student enrollment of 1,052
- Overall score of 77.16
- College readiness score of 29.2
8. Mount Pleasant High School
- Type: public
- Ranked No. 3,718 nationally
- Student enrollment of 1,078
- Overall score of 79.16
- College readiness score of 26.0
7. Caesar Rodney High School
- Type: public
- Ranked No. 3,631 nationally
- Student enrollment of 2,116
- Overall score of 79.65
- College readiness score of 33.2
6. MOT Charter School
- Type: charter
- Ranked No. 2,885 nationally; No. 403 in charter high schools
- Student enrollment of 699
- Overall score of 83.83
- College readiness score of 35.7
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5. Conrad Schools of Science
- Type: public
- Ranked No. 530 nationally; No. 93 in magnet high schools
- Student enrollment of 670
- Overall score of 97.03
- College readiness score of 70.3
4. Sussex Academy
- Type: charter
- Ranked No. 454 nationally; No. 108 in charter high schools
- Student enrollment of 505
- Overall score of 97.46
- College readiness score of 68.3
3. Cab Calloway School of the Arts
- Type: magnet
- Ranked No. 330 nationally; No. 69 in magnet high schools
- Student enrollment of 507
- Overall score of 98.15
- College readiness score of 76.0
2. Newark Charter School
- Type: charter
- Ranked No. 296 nationally; No. 72 in charter high schools
- Student enrollment of 723
- Overall score of 98.34
- College readiness score of 68.0
1. The Charter School of Wilmington
- Type: charter
- Ranked No. 76 nationally; No. 16 in charter high schools
- Student enrollment of 965
- Overall score of 99.57
- College readiness score of 74.8
Other Delaware schools
U.S. News & World Report ranked 58 high schools in Delaware.
Find your school:U.S. News Best High Schools Rankings
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Last year’s rankings:U.S. News ranks top 20 public high schools in Delaware
How the Best High Schools were selected
U.S. News & World Report’s methodology for ranking high schools:
College Readiness 30% — The proportions of 12th graders who took and earned a qualifying score on at least one AP or IB exam. Earning a qualifying score is worth three times more than just taking.
State Assessment Proficiency 20% — Aggregated scores on state assessments that students may be required to pass for graduation.
State Assessment Performance 20% — How aggregated scores on state assessments compare with U.S. News’ expectations given the proportions of students who are Black, Hispanic and from low-income households.
Underserved Student Performance 10% — Scores on state assessments aggregated just among students who are Black, Hispanic and from low-income households. These scores are compared with what is typical in the state for non-undeserved students, with parity or higher being the goal.
College Curriculum Breadth 10% — The proportions of 12th graders who took and earned a qualifying score on AP and IB exams in multiple areas. More exams are valued more than fewer exams up to a maximum of four. Earning a qualifying score on an exam is worth three times more than taking.
Graduation Rate 10% — The proportion of entering ninth graders who graduated four academic years later.