The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Fred Fifer Iii Middle School
Fred Fifer III Middle School sits in the town of Camden, a small historic community in central Kent County that grew from a Quaker crossroads settlement into a quiet residential town with a highway-commercial edge along U.S. Route 13. Camden is part of the Dover metropolitan area, and the school is embedded in the community rather than on a separated campus. It shares its setting with other Caesar Rodney district buildings, including the district's comprehensive high school, which is also in Camden. The town is largely car-dependent, with DART bus service connecting it to Dover and surrounding towns, and a Walmart on the eastern side providing nearby retail. Housing here is moderately priced relative to the state benchmark, with typical home values a bit below the Delaware statewide figure and rents that sit below what a monthly mortgage would cost at current rates. That makes the area relatively accessible for families looking to buy or rent near a mid-sized middle school.
Fred Fifer III is a regular public school serving grades six through eight, with enrollment that is substantial for a single middle school in this part of the state. The student body is racially diverse, with a white plurality, a large Black population, a meaningful Hispanic presence, and a smaller share of multiracial students. Data on free or reduced-price lunch, special education populations, and English learners was not available, so the economic and support-service picture is incomplete from what is reported here.
Academically, the most recent state assessment results show a mixed profile. English language arts proficiency sits in a middling range, with roughly half of tested students reaching proficiency. That is the school's relative bright spot. Mathematics is weaker, with only about a quarter of students scoring proficient or above. Science results are lower still, and social studies performance, reported by grade, shows a drop between sixth and eighth grade. A parent considering this school may want to ask about math and science instruction specifically, particularly how the school supports students who arrive below grade level.
The multi-year trend tells a story of decline followed by a modest recent recovery. In the years before the pandemic, ELA proficiency regularly ran well above where it stands now, and math was also higher. Both subjects slid through the pandemic years and into the early recovery period, with math reaching a low point a couple of years ago before ticking upward in the most recent round. ELA has also moved up from its recent trough. The direction is mildly encouraging, though the school has not returned to its earlier performance levels. Because the assessment framework itself has not changed in ways that would fully explain the gap, the trend appears to reflect real performance movement rather than a reporting artifact. That said, one social studies grade had a cut-score change flagged, so year-to-year comparisons in that subject require some caution.
Compared with other districts in Kent County, Fred Fifer III's overall proficiency index lands above the midpoint, meaning the school outperforms a fair share of its county peers on the combined measure across tested subjects and grades. This is a useful reference point, though it does not smooth over the fact that math and science remain areas of clear concern.
The school does not have a graduation rate, which is expected because it serves only middle school grades. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, and staffing was not available in what was provided. Program offerings were also not listed, so families will need to go to the school directly for details on extracurriculars, advanced coursework, or specialized supports. Title I status was not reported either.
Camden itself offers a small-town setting with a historic core, its own police department, a public library, and shared utility infrastructure with neighboring Wyoming. The town has seen modest population growth and maintains zoning and land-use plans suggesting continued development pressure. For families already in or drawn to the Caesar Rodney district, Fred Fifer III is a reasonably large, diverse middle school with an English program that holds its own and math and science programs that warrant closer questions before enrollment.
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