Total enrollment
32,366
+2,063 (+7%) vs SY 2020-21
Sussex County
Delaware · Public K-12
Sussex County's 55 public schools sit inside Delaware and collectively enroll about 32,366 K-12 students across 28 elementary, 11 middle, and 12 high.
4-year change in Sussex County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
49
+1 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Sussex County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Delaware | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 32,366 | #2 of 3 | #319 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 49 | #3 of 3 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.7:1 | #2 of 3 | #1,675 of 2,655 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 66.3% | #3 of 3 | #260 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Sussex County school rankings
Residents
255,626
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
55
11 districts
Enrollment
32,366
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$81,497
Below Delaware avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
28
14,227 students
Middle
11
6,496 students
High
12
9,625 students
Combined / other
4
2,018 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Indian River School District
10,753 students · 11 districts in Sussex County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Sussex County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
33.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.3%
civilian labor
Median age
52
18.1% under 18
Test scores in Sussex County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 31 schools ranked. Delaware state average: 41.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Beacon Middle School· 71.1%
- Sussex Academy· 69.6%
- Frederick D Thomas Middle School· 66.9%
- Love Creek Elementary School· 64.1%
- Lewes Elementary School· 62.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Sussex Montessori School· 17.3%
- North Georgetown Elementary School· 22.7%
- Laurel Elementary School· 25.5%
- Mispillion Elementary· 26.0%
- East Millsboro Elementary School· 32.1%
Cities in Sussex County
About Sussex County
Sussex County is a wide-reaching county of about 255,626 residents in Delaware. Its public-school system serves approximately 32,366 students across 55 schools.
Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $81,497, roughly 33% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 8%.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Sussex County is built around 28 elementary schools (14,227 students), 11 middle schools (6,496), 12 high schools (9,625), and 4 combined or other schools.
Indian River School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 10,753 students on its own.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Sussex County has grew 7% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 30,303 students to 32,366. Sussex County now counts 49 public schools, up from 48 in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Sussex County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data