Smyrna School District

Smyrna, Delaware — 8 schools

6,067
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$15,860
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Smyrna School District operates 8 public schools serving 6,067 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Delaware. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 5,887 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Kent County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,860 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 19.3% local, 69.6% state, and 11.2% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $87,156 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 40/100, ranked #22 of 40 in Delaware against a state average of 39 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (17 AP courses district-wide), a 368:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 18.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 49.5% White, 33.8% African American, 9.6% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Smyrna High School accounts for 30.2% of all Smyrna School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Smyrna School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Smyrna School District school enrollment varies 4.2× across entities

Smyrna School District school enrollment ranges from 420 students (lowest) to 1,777 students (highest), a spread of 1,357 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Smyrna School District student-counselor ratio is 368:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Smyrna School District chronic absenteeism rate is 18.6% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Smyrna School District is typically wider than the Smyrna School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

11.2%
Federal
69.6%
State
19.3%
Local

Funding Equity

40
Equity Score
22 / 40
State Rank
39
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Kent County county, where this district is located.

$1,158
Studio/mo
$1,165
1 BR/mo
$1,470
2 BR/mo
$2,044
3 BR/mo
$2,285
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$87,156
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 8 schools in Smyrna School District.

White 49.5%
Hispanic or Latino 9.6%
African American 33.8%
Asian 1.2%
Multiracial 5.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 8
Schools with AP
17 AP courses total
368:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.6%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Smyrna School District

School Enrollment
Smyrna High School
1,777
Smyrna Middle School
1,011
Moore (John Bassett) School
638
North Smyrna Elementary School
557
Sunnyside Elementary School
507
Clayton Intermediate School
490
Clayton Elementary School
487
Smyrna Elementary School
420

Nearby Districts in Delaware

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Red Clay Consolidated School District
14,771 students · 28 schools · $23,101/pupil
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Christina School District
13,092 students · 28 schools · $30,267/pupil
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Appoquinimink School District
12,804 students · 20 schools · $21,233/pupil
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Indian River School District
10,799 students · 16 schools · $21,100/pupil
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Brandywine School District
10,367 students · 17 schools · $21,794/pupil
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Compare Smyrna School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Red Clay Consolidated School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Smyrna School District?

Smyrna School District has 8 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 5 elementary, 1 other. Total enrollment is 6,067 students.

How much does Smyrna School District spend per student?

Smyrna School District spends $15,860 per student. The district has an equity score of 40/100, ranking #22 in Delaware.

What is the average teacher salary in Smyrna School District?

The average teacher salary in Smyrna School District is $87,156 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Smyrna School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Kent County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Smyrna School District?

Smyrna School District students are 49.5% White, 33.8% African American, 9.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% Asian, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Smyrna School District?

Smyrna School District has an equity score of 40/100, ranking #22 out of 40 districts in Delaware. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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