In 1995 the Capital School District received one of 17 national Challenge Grants from the U.S. Department of Education in the programs's inaugural year. The $5.5 million grant spanned five years and supported technology at school and in the home. The district offers a computer training laboratory in each school, gifted programs in elementary and secondary schools, language arts and mathematics programs, and a school with multiage grouping. Dover High School offers a Technical Preparation program. The schools also conduct a curriculum in which members of the community serve as writing coaches. Handicapped children are served by the Kent County Community School.
The following is a summary of data regarding the Capital School District as of the 2003–2004 school year.
Total enrollment: 5,909
Number of facilities
elementary schools: 7
middle schools: 2
senior high schools: 1
other: 1 (Kent County Community School)
Student/teacher ratio: 15.2:1
Teacher salaries
average: $49,989
Funding per pupil: $8,922 (2003)
Public Schools Information: Superintendent's Office, Capital School District, 945 Forest St., Dover, DE 19904-3498; telephone (302)672-1500; fax (302)672-1714
Delaware State University, with about 3,178 students, is the state's historically African American institution of higher learning. The university has three undergraduate schools, a college, and a graduate school offering master's degrees in seven areas. Founded in 1873, Wesley College has 30 bachelor's degree programs and four associates degrees along with four master's programs. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Bachelor's and master's degree programs are available through Wilmington College, which has sites at Dover Air Force Base and just north of Dover Downs. More than 42,500 students each year enroll in diversified technical associate degree programs, diploma programs, and certificate and special interest programs offered at the Delaware Technical and Community College's four locations. Three thousand students attend the Dover campus each semester; the other campuses are in Georgetown, Stanton, and Wilmington. The University of Delaware maintains a campus that includes an associates degree art program.
The Dover Public Library, which underwent renovations in 2002 and 2003, has more than 97,000 volumes, 350 magazine subscriptions, and 12 newspapers and services about 500 patrons daily in its 17,500 square foot facility. The library also contains films, records, audiocassettes, and videocassettes. Services include reference materials and aids, book talks, and seasonal and children's programs.
The Dover Air Force Base maintains a library containing nearly 30,000 volumes focusing on the United States Air Force and various military topics, with special collections on Transition Assistance. Besides being the site of the Delaware Division of Libraries State Library, Dover is home to the state's Department of Transportation Library, the Delaware State Archives, and libraries of the Delaware Department of Public Instruction, the Delaware State House Museum, the Legislative Council Library, and the State's Law Library. The State Library of Delaware provides special services to people who are blind, physically handicapped, or homebound. Both local colleges and the local hospital also have library facilities.
Founded in the 1950s, the National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor Research Fund (NCALL Research) provides housing counseling services along with studies on safe and sanitary rural housing, particularly for farm workers.
The St. Jones Estuarine Research Reserve offers group tours and free general admission to its environmental research center that features a variety of programs and nature trails along with canoe and boat trips as it strives to promote the general public's knowledge of estuaries.
Public Library Information: Dover Public Library, 45 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901-3526; telephone (302)736-7030; fax (302)736-5087
Research Information: Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, 818 Kitts Hummock Rd., Dover, DE 19901; telephone (302)739-3436