Laurel

This page provides a snapshot of publicly available information about the Laurel and its school board. It includes basic district characteristics, board composition, academic indicators, budget information, and public engagement practices. The information is intended to help residents understand how the district is structured and how the school board operates.

Laurel

Mission Statement:

The mission of The Laurel School District is to prepare all students for success in the 21st century by: Fostering leadership, inspiring ownership, and facilitating professional growth in our PEOPLE. Establishing a creative and bold culture of implementing best PRACTICES. Continually setting and reflecting on goals that will make us a model of student growth and PERFORMANCE in Delaware.

District:

Laurel

County:

Sussex

Superintendent :

Dr. Shawn Larrimore

Size of Board:

5

Number of Schools:

4

Avg Board Tenure (Years):

8.4

Total Enrollment (2024):

2499

Linda Hitchens

Board Role: Board President

Term End Year: 2026

Years on Board: 5

Professional Background: N/A

Nominating District: At Large

Sabrina Isler

Board Role: Board Vice President

Term End Year: 2027

Years on Board: 13

Professional Background: N/A

Nominating District: At Large

Kim Ralph

Board Role: Member

Term End Year: 2028

Years on Board: 2

Professional Background: N/A

Nominating District: At Large

Brent Nichols

Board Role: Member

Term End Year: 2026

Years on Board: 16

Professional Background: N/A

Nominating District: At Large

Jana Pugh

Board Role: Member

Term End Year: 2029

Years on Board: 6

Professional Background: N/A

Nominating District: At Large

Top Issue 1:

School safety planning/procedures

Top Issue 2:

Facilities/building improvements

Top Issue 3:

Policy/operational updates

Overall Accountability:

Well Below Expectations

Literacy Proficiency (%):

3
3%

Math Proficiency (%):

2
2%

Graduation Rate (%):

82
82%

Dropout Rate (%):

2.8
2.8%

Chronic absenteeism (%):

16.1
16.1%

Capacity:

3282

Projected Enrollment:

2499

Projected Capacity (%):

76
76%

Revenue:

$45.3 million

Expenditure:

$45.8 million

Finance Page URL:

Budget Posted Online:

no

Strategic Plan Completion Year:

Strategic Plan Available:

no

Strategic Plan URL:

Click Here

Public Comment Time:

N/A

Virtual Meetings Available:

yes

Citizens Committee:

Citizen Budget Oversight Committee

Annual Meet-the-Board Event:

no

Seats Up for 2026:

2

Seats up For Election:

  • At Large, Linda Hitchens
  • At Large, Brent Nichols

Filed Candidates:

  • At Large, Zach Whaley
  • At Large, D. Brent Nichols

The information shown here reflects selected, publicly available data for each district. This comparison is descriptive and intended to support understanding of similarities and differences across districts. It does not reflect evaluations, rankings, or judgments, and it does not account for local context beyond what is displayed.

We have made every effort to ensure the data presented on this site is accurate. If you have a question or discover an error in any of the data presented here, please email julia@firststateed.org so the necessary updates can be made. Thank you.

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