Public schools in Dover, DE
20 open public schools with an address in Dover, operated by 5 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
20
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
9,035
20 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.2:1
Delaware median 14.6:1
Charter schools
3
0 virtual
An overview of Dover public schools
The federal directory lists 20 public schools in Dover, DE: 12 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high, 3 combined or other. The 20 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 9,035 students, an average of 452 per school. The largest campus is Dover High School (1,812 students), and the largest elementary school is South Dover Elementary School (577).
Capital School District operates the most schools here (12), and 2 regular districts have at least one Dover campus, plus 3 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 16.2:1, higher than the statewide school median of 14.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Dover
Capital School District
Public school district
12 schools in Dover · 13 total
Caesar Rodney School District
Public school district
5 schools in Dover · 15 total
Academy of Dover Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dover
Campus Community School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dover
Early College High School at Del State
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dover
Elementary schools in Dover
12| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Of Dover Charter School Academy of Dover Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 443 | 15.3:1 | |
| Booker T. Washington Elementary School Capital School District | 01–05 | 314 | 10.1:1 | |
| Campus Community School Campus Community School · Charter | KG–08 | 409 | 20.5:1 | |
| East Dover Early Childhood Center Capital School District | PK–KG | 331 | 15.8:1 | |
| Fairview Early Childhood Center Capital School District | PK–KG | 287 | 13:1 | |
| Major George S. Welch Elementary School Caesar Rodney School District | KG–05 | 261 | 9:1 | |
| Nellie Hughes Stokes Elementary School Caesar Rodney School District | 01–05 | 487 | 16.2:1 | |
| North Dover Elementary School Capital School District | 01–05 | 333 | 19.6:1 | |
| South Dover Elementary School Capital School District | 01–05 | 577 | 18.9:1 | |
| Star Hill Elementary School Caesar Rodney School District | 01–05 | 429 | 14.8:1 | |
| Towne Point Elementary School Capital School District | 01–05 | 341 | 16.6:1 | |
| W. Reily Brown Elementary School Caesar Rodney School District | 01–05 | 506 | 13.7:1 |
Middle schools in Dover
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover Air Force Base Middle School Caesar Rodney School District | 06–08 | 98 | 6.5:1 | |
| Middle School of Excellence Capital School District | 06–08 | 608 | 26.4:1 | |
| Middle School of Innovation Capital School District | 06–08 | 690 | 22.3:1 |
High schools in Dover
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover High School Capital School District | 09–12 | 1,812 | 20.5:1 | |
| Early College School at Del State Early College High School at Del State · Charter | 07–12 | 583 | 24.3:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Dover
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Early Childhood Center Capital School District | PK–PK | 145 | — | |
| Kent County Community School Capital School District · Special Education School | PK–12 | 274 | 21.1:1 | |
| Kent County Secondary ILC Capital School District · Special Education School | KG–12 | 107 | 10.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White22.4%
- Hispanic14%
- Black54%
- Asian1.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.6%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial7.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 20 Dover schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (9,035 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Dover
How many public schools are in Dover, DE?
The current NCES directory lists 20 open public schools with a location address in Dover: 12 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 9,035 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Dover?
Schools with an address in Dover belong to 5 education agencies, led by Capital School District (12 schools), Caesar Rodney School District (5 schools), Academy of Dover Charter School (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Dover?
Dover High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Dover, with 1,812 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Dover?
Yes. 3 of the 20 public schools in Dover are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Academy Of Dover Charter School, Campus Community School, Early College School at Del State. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Dover schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Dover public schools is 16.2:1, higher than the Delaware school median of 14.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Dover guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Delaware cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Delaware cities