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Blackwell Street, looking east from Morris Street, Dover, NJPhoto: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0
D
Schools in Dover · Dover Town School District

Dover’s public schools score below 86% of New Jersey districts on tests and graduation

23% of students in Dover’s public schools are proficient in math, below the New Jersey average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Dover, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New Jersey, not nationally.

#411of 465 New Jersey townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New Jersey 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
39%
▼ 10 pts vs NJ 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
23%
▼ 12 pts vs NJ 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
79%
▼ 12 pts vs NJ 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$25.4K
▼ 11% vs NJ $28.4K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.6
NJ 11.6
Schools in town
5
3,208 students on the public path
In brief

Dover’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 236 New Jersey towns with household incomes within a quarter of Dover’s, its schools beat 23%, higher than their 14% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 39% of tested students were proficient in reading and 23% in math, against 49% and 36% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $25,369 per student, against $28,441 across New Jersey (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 7 the district’s path is Dover Middle School, then Dover High School. 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 Dover’s grade

C Test scoresD Graduation

D: better than 14% of New Jersey school districts, #411 of 465 New Jersey towns. Both inputs trail the New Jersey average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

New Jersey school districts we grade (651)Better than 14%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Jersey towns with similar household incomes (236)Better than 23%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,677 test results and a graduating class of 329 could put Dover anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Dover’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,730 in math, 1,624 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–63 schoolsDepends on your addressC−
7–8Dover Middle SchoolDover Town School DistrictC+
9–12Dover High SchoolDover Town School DistrictB−

Dover’s public schools are run by Dover Town School District, which also serves Victory Gardens. 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.

Dover Town School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 3,208 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 11.6 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$25,369NJ $28,441 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading39%
State average 48.6% · 1624 students tested
Math23%
State average 35.5% · 1730 students tested

Dover vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New Jersey towns that share Dover’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DoverDDover Town
WhartonB−Wharton Borough PK–8 · Morris Hills Regional 9–12
RockawayB+Rockaway Township PK–8 · Morris Hills Regional 9–12
RandolphA−Randolph Township
Mine HillBMine Hill Township

Every school in Dover

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

District schools in Doverby address
North Dover Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
C−
640 students11:1Rate it →
Academy Street Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
C−
509 students12:1Rate it →
East Dover Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
C−
411 students11:1Rate it →
Dover Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
C+
481 students11:1Rate it →
Dover High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
1,167 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Dover’s schools

Are Dover’s schools good?

On New Jersey’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Dover children attend score below 86% of New Jersey’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #411 of 465 New Jersey towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 23%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Dover in?

Dover Town School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,208 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Dover kids go to high school?

Dover High School, with 1,167 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Dover’s graduation rate?

79% of the class of 2023 in Dover Town School District graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey.

How much does Dover spend per student?

$25,369 in Dover Town School District (FY2024), against $28,441 across New Jersey. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Dover families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Dover → 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 New Jersey. Stars are from neighbors.