The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in Math. The lowest is 33% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Lake Forest South Elementary School
Lake Forest South Elementary School sits on Dorman Street in Harrington, a small Kent County city that calls itself "The Hub of Delaware." The school serves kindergarten through third grade and belongs to the Lake Forest School District, a regional system that draws from Harrington and the surrounding rural communities of southern Kent County. This is an early-childhood building, which shapes what data exists and what does not. There is no graduation rate because the school does not extend to high school. State testing applies only to third graders here, since kindergarten through second grade are not assessed under Delaware's Smarter Balanced system.
The most recent results, from the current school year, show roughly a third of tested third graders reaching proficiency in English language arts and slightly more in math. These are the only tested grades in the building. Looking back across the years the state has reported, proficiency has moved considerably. In the years before the pandemic, both subjects hovered around the mid-fifties to mid-sixties range, with some strong years. Scores fell sharply during the pandemic recovery period, then climbed back toward the low-to-mid fifties in both subjects. This year's results represent a drop from that recovery level. Whether this reflects a cohort difference, a change in the tested group, or something else, a parent may want to look into this further with the school.
Against its Kent County peer set, Lake Forest South's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint. The comparison universe here is the county's districts, so the school is being measured against a regional group that includes both higher- and lower-performing systems. This positions the school as a reasonable performer in its local context, even as the current-year dip bears watching.
The enrollment is moderate for an early-elementary building, with students spread fairly evenly across the four grades. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial minority of Black students and smaller groups of Hispanic and multiracial students. Economic data, including free or reduced-price lunch rates, was not reported, so it is not possible to characterize the income profile of the families served. Special population data, including students with individualized education programs and English learners, was also missing. Title I status was not available. These gaps mean a parent would need to contact the school directly for a fuller picture of the support services and student composition.
Harrington itself is a working community with a distinct identity. US Route 13 runs through town, bringing highway commercial activity and through-traffic. The Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington Raceway and Casino, and an industrial park form the economic backbone, giving the city a character that is partly residential, partly regional entertainment and employment hub. The surrounding landscape is mostly farms and subdivisions. The city's comprehensive plan openly welcomes growth and development, with water infrastructure upgrades identified as a priority to support new housing. The historic core near Commerce Street and Railroad Avenue preserves some of the town's railroad-junction heritage, with museums and the historical society within walking distance, though street life is limited by the small population and auto-oriented development along Route 13. Working freight trains still pass through.
The housing market in the school's zip code is relatively affordable compared with both state and national benchmarks. Typical home values sit below the Delaware statewide level, and the price-to-income ratio suggests a market that remains within reach for working families in the area. Rent data was not available, but mortgage costs relative to local incomes appear manageable. This aligns with Harrington's identity as a bedroom community where families can find somewhat more affordable housing than in the Dover metro core to the north.
We looked for parent-relevant changes in the Lake Forest School District, such as policy shifts, curriculum updates, referenda, or budget decisions, and found little that clears a lasting-impact threshold from publicly reported sources. The district brief turned up descriptive and demographic information but no specific recent changes a family would need to factor in right now.
What this school offers is an early-elementary foundation in a small-community setting, with a student body that reflects the racial mix of southern Kent County and a housing market that tends toward affordability. The academic results have been variable, with a recent dip from a recovery period. The school performs above the middle of its county peer group on the available proficiency index, but the current-year scores are lower than where the school has been in stronger years. A family considering Lake Forest South would be choosing a small-town elementary with regional transportation access and fair proximity to Dover, and would benefit from asking the school directly about the trajectory of recent scores and the support structures for early learners.
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