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Second Street in downtown Lewes, DelawarePhoto: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0
A−
Schools in Lewes · Cape Henlopen School District

Lewes’s public schools outscore 81% of Delaware districts

47% of students in Lewes’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Delaware average (29%). The grade covers the public school district serving Lewes, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Delaware, not nationally.

#1of 37 Delaware townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Delaware state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
57%
▲ 15 pts vs DE 42%
2021–22
Math proficiency
47%
▲ 18 pts vs DE 29%
2021–22
Graduate on time
89%
▲ 0 pts vs DE 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$21.8K
▼ 2% vs DE $22.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.5
DE 14.7 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
2,960 students on the public path
In brief

Lewes’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 39 Delaware towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lewes’s, its schools beat 92%, higher than their 81% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 57% and math 47% in spring 2022, against 42% and 29% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $21,812 per student, against $22,312 across Delaware (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Frederick D Thomas Middle School, then Cape Henlopen High School. Enrollment is up 13% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Lewes’s grade

A Test scoresC+ Graduation

A−: better than 81% of Delaware school districts, #1 of 37 Delaware towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Delaware average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Delaware school districts we grade (42)Better than 81%
Lower resultsHigher results
Delaware towns with similar household incomes (39)Better than 92%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,097 test results and a graduating class of 412 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Lewes’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,102 in math, 3,092 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Lewes, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–5Lewes Elementary SchoolCape Henlopen School DistrictA+
6–8Frederick D Thomas Middle SchoolCape Henlopen School DistrictNo scores
9–12Cape Henlopen High SchoolCape Henlopen School DistrictB+

Lewes’s public schools are run by Cape Henlopen School District, which also serves Dewey Beach, Henlopen Acres, Milton and Rehoboth Beach. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Cape Henlopen School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 10 schools · 6,654 students, up 13% since 2020–21 · 12.5 per teacher (DE 14.7)
$21,812DE $22,312 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading57%
State average 42.2% · 3092 students tested
Math47%
State average 29.2% · 3102 students tested

Lewes vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Delaware towns that share Lewes’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
LewesA−Cape Henlopen

Every school in Lewes

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Delaware’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Lewesby address
Lewes Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A+
620 students14:1Rate it →
Frederick D Thomas Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
451 students17:1Rate it →
Also serving Lewesin other towns
Cape Henlopen High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
1,889 students15:1Rate it →

Questions about Lewes’s schools

Are Lewes’s schools good?

By Delaware’s own tests, yes: the public schools Lewes children attend outscore 81% of Delaware’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #1 of 37 Delaware towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 92%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lewes in?

Cape Henlopen School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 6,654 students in 10 schools (2024–25).

Where do Lewes kids go to high school?

Cape Henlopen High School, with 1,889 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Lewes’s graduation rate?

89% of the class of 2023 in Cape Henlopen School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Delaware.

How much does Lewes spend per student?

$21,812 in Cape Henlopen School District (FY2024), against $22,312 across Delaware. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Lewes families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lewes → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Delaware. Stars are from neighbors.