What share of students in Delaware are proficient in math?

In 2024, 19% of eighth graders in Delaware public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (5th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 23% in reading, compared with 29% and 31% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Delaware, United States: official figures

87.8% of public high school students in Delaware graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 16th highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

87.8%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

210

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

263

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$22,201

FY2024

Public school enrollment

141,842

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

36.0%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Delaware rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Delaware was 87.8% in 2021-22, compared with 80% in 2011-12 and 89.0% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Delaware?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Delaware was 81.0% for economically disadvantaged students, 72.0% for students with disabilities and 69.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Delaware?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Delaware was 85.2% for Black, 82.0% for Hispanic and 91.5% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Delaware score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Delaware averaged 210 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 11th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 218 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 26% scored at or above Proficient and 45% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Delaware score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Delaware averaged 249 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 5th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 260 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 23% scored at or above Proficient and 41% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Delaware score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Delaware averaged 233 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 12th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 239 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 35% scored at or above Proficient and 29% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Delaware score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Delaware averaged 263 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 5th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 277 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 19% scored at or above Proficient and 49% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Delaware spend per student?

Public school systems in Delaware spent $22,201 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 9th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Delaware going up?

Current spending per pupil in Delaware rose from $16,315 in fiscal 2019 to $22,201 in fiscal 2024, up 36.1% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 4.0%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Delaware spend school money on?

Of the $22,201 spent per pupil in Delaware in fiscal 2024, $11,858 went on instruction and $9,608 on support services; salaries and wages came to $11,087 per pupil and employee benefits $6,057.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Delaware come from?

Public school systems in Delaware received $2.9 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 10.7% from the federal government, 57.4% from the state and 31.8% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Delaware spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Delaware was $3.0 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $2.8 billion was current spending and $223.49 million capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $1.5 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Delaware?

141,842 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Delaware in fall 2023, up 1.4% on fall 2019 (139,930) and up 7.7% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Delaware?

Public schools in Delaware had 9,991 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 14.2 pupils per teacher, joint 26th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Delaware in fall 2019: 14.4).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Delaware have a college degree?

36.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Delaware, about 269,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; joint 24th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 0.4 percentage points on 2021 (35.6%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Delaware have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 16.0% of adults 25 and over in Delaware had a graduate or professional degree and 8.2% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Delaware did not finish high school?

91.8% of adults 25 and over in Delaware had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 8.2% without one; that share is joint 26th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Delaware compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Delaware ranks 16 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
13	Alabama	88.2%
14	Utah	88.2%
15	Arkansas	88.2%
16	Delaware	87.8%
17	Indiana	87.7%
18	New Hampshire	87.7%
19	Florida	87.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Delaware ranks 20 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
17	New York	81.6%
18	Nevada	81.5%
19	Wisconsin	81.4%
20	Delaware	81.0%
21	Oregon	80.7%
22	Pennsylvania	80.1%
23	Illinois	80.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Delaware ranks 43 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
40	Nebraska	212
41	Arkansas	210
42	Maine	210
43	Delaware	210
44	Michigan	209
45	District of Columbia	209
46	Arizona	208

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Delaware ranks 48 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
45	District of Columbia	251
46	Alabama	250
47	Oklahoma	249
48	Delaware	249
49	West Virginia	247
50	Alaska	246
51	New Mexico	245

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Delaware ranks 44 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
41	Oklahoma	233
42	Nevada	233
43	Maine	233
44	Delaware	233
45	Arizona	232
46	West Virginia	232
47	District of Columbia	231

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Delaware ranks 47 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
44	Nevada	265
45	Oklahoma	264
46	Alaska	264
47	Delaware	263
48	Alabama	262
49	District of Columbia	262
50	West Virginia	261

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Delaware ranks 47 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
44	Nevada	20.2%
45	District of Columbia	20.1%
46	Arkansas	19.8%
47	Delaware	19.3%
48	Alabama	18.4%
49	West Virginia	17.8%
50	Oklahoma	17.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Delaware ranks 9 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
6	Arizona	46.5%
7	Oklahoma	46.4%
8	Michigan	45.4%
9	Delaware	44.6%
10	Maine	44.5%
11	Arkansas	43.8%
12	California	43.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Delaware ranks 9 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
6	Massachusetts	$24,429
7	Hawaii	$23,878
8	New Hampshire	$22,978
9	Delaware	$22,201
10	Rhode Island	$22,110
11	Illinois	$21,776
12	Pennsylvania	$21,091

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Delaware ranks 16 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
13	Idaho	+38.5%
14	Massachusetts	+37.6%
15	Maine	+36.6%
16	Delaware	+36.1%
17	Virginia	+35.3%
18	South Carolina	+35.2%
19	Alabama	+35.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Delaware ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
36	Indiana	32.7%
37	Mississippi	32.5%
38	Michigan	32.4%
39	Delaware	31.8%
40	Alabama	31.3%
41	Minnesota	30.2%
42	Kansas	26.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Delaware ranks 26 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
23	Georgia	14.4
24	Maryland	14.3
25	Hawaii	14.2
26	Delaware	14.2
27	South Carolina	14.1
28	Iowa	14.1
29	Nebraska	13.8

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Delaware ranks 4 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
1	District of Columbia	+3.2%
2	North Dakota	+2.5%
3	Idaho	+1.7%
4	Delaware	+1.4%
5	South Dakota	+1.1%
6	South Carolina	+0.9%
7	Utah	+0.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Delaware ranks 25 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
22	Georgia	36.3%
23	Montana	36.3%
24	Kansas	36.0%
25	Delaware	36.0%
26	Florida	35.8%
27	Nebraska	35.4%
28	Texas	35.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Delaware ranks 27 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
24	Maryland	8.6%
25	Virginia	8.3%
26	Connecticut	8.2%
27	Delaware	8.2%
28	Missouri	8.0%
29	Kansas	8.0%
30	District of Columbia	8.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Delaware: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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