Delaware’s four-year graduation rate increased to 89 percent in 2025, continuing a four-year upward trend and exceeding the 2019 pre-pandemic rate of 86.7 percent. 

Multilingual learners across Delaware achieved an average of 48.6 percent of their individual English language growth targets in 2026, compared with 46 percent in 2025 and 42.8 percent in 2024. The measure looks at how much progress students made toward individual annual targets based on where they began, rather than whether they have already reached English proficiency. 

“These results add another important part of the picture of how Delaware students are doing,” Secretary of Education Cindy Marten said. “More students are earning diplomas within four years, and multilingual learners are making greater progress toward their individual English language goals. We should recognize that progress, understand what is producing it, and be equally clear about where students are not yet seeing the same gains. Data should lead to action. Our job is to learn from the schools and districts where students are making stronger gains, strengthen instruction and support where they are not, and keep measuring whether what we are doing is actually improving outcomes for students.” 

The English language progress and graduation rates released today are components of the Delaware School Success Framework, the state’s school accountability system. Together with academic achievement, academic progress, and School Quality and Student Success measures, they provide a broader view of student and school performance and help identify where students are progressing and where additional support is needed. 

Graduation rates, state assessment proficiency, SAT results, and NAEP results are different measures that answer different questions. A diploma reflects completion of state and local graduation requirements. It does not mean every graduate has demonstrated proficiency on every statewide or national assessment. The graduation rate provides one important measure of student success, while academic achievement results show there is still substantial work to do to ensure more students leave school with the knowledge and skills they need for college, career, and life. 

DDOE released academic proficiency results Aug. 18 and academic progress results Sept. 15. School Quality and Student Success measures, delayed to allow additional time for data validation, will be released Oct. 20, followed by complete DSSF results Oct. 27. 

Graduation rate 

Delaware calculates graduation rates by following groups of students who began ninth grade together and determining the percentage who earned a diploma within four, five, or six years. 

The four-year graduation rate carries the greatest weight in the Delaware School Success Framework. Five- and six-year rates recognize schools that continue supporting students who need additional time to earn their diplomas. 

Delaware’s statewide adjusted four-year graduation rate has increased from 87 percent in 2022 to 87.8 percent in 2023, 88.9 percent in 2024, and 89 percent in 2025. The 2025 rate also exceeds the state’s 2019 pre-pandemic rate of 86.7 percent. 

Several districts also showed year-over-year improvement. Indian River School District’s four-year graduation rate increased from 82 percent in 2024 to 89.6 percent in 2025. Milford School District increased from 83.8 percent to 88.3 percent, and Christina School District increased from 73.2 percent to 77.9 percent. 

The results provide opportunities to examine where more students are reaching graduation, learn what may be contributing to those results, and identify where students need additional support to complete high school. 

Graduation rates trail other accountability measures by one year because DDOE must verify diploma and enrollment records with districts and charter schools before finalizing the results. The Class of 2026 graduation rate will therefore be reported as part of the 2027 Delaware School Success Framework. 

Progress toward English language proficiency 

Delaware measures whether multilingual learners are making expected annual progress toward English proficiency through the WIDA ACCESS assessment. 

Each multilingual learner has an individual annual growth target based on the student’s starting level and expected timeline for developing English proficiency. The measure looks at how much progress each student makes toward that individual target and then averages those results at the school and state levels. It is a measure of progress toward English proficiency, not the percentage of students who are English proficient or who met their full annual target. 

Statewide, multilingual learners achieved an average of 48.6 percent of their individual growth targets in 2026, up from 46 percent in 2025 and 42.8 percent in 2024. The 2026 result represents the second consecutive year-over-year increase. 

Several districts also showed increased progress in 2026. Seaford School District’s multilingual learners achieved an average of 60.9 percent of their individual growth targets, up from 55.7 percent in 2025. Woodbridge School District increased from 53.1 percent to 59.4 percent, and Smyrna School District increased from 44.1 percent to 52.4 percent. 

Year-to-year results can vary as students enter or exit multilingual learner status. Districts and charter schools with smaller multilingual learner populations also may experience larger changes because the results of a small number of students can have a greater effect on the overall result. Delaware reports school results only when at least 15 eligible multilingual learners are included. 

District- and school-level graduation and English language progress results are available on the Delaware Open Data Portal.  

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