Delaware High-Needs Schools

The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) identifies high-needs schools for multiple reasons, including to determine elementary wellness center needs, educator loan repayment eligibility and more.

In Delaware, public schools are classified as high-needs schools if they maintain a student population in the top quartile of the state’s elementary or secondary schools in three or more of the following areas:

• Percent of low-income students,
• Percent of English learner (EL) students,
• Percent of students with disabilities (SWD), or
• Percent of underrepresented minority students, or if the school has more than 90% of their students classified as low-income, EL, or underrepresented minority.

Please note: Delaware high-needs schools may differ from Title I schools. Title I is a federal designation that provides funds to districts and charter schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families.

High-Needs Schools

The following is a list of current high-needs schools in Delaware, effective for school years 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26.