Richard A. Shields Elementary School - Lewes, DE

Upon entering the doors at Shields Elementary, you immediately begin to feel the learning, sharing, and positive culture that are created here. You will see smiling staff members, eager and engaged students, and many parents volunteering their time. This atmosphere did not happen by chance, but has been grown for many years with great planning, phenomenal teachers, supportive parents and superb leadership. At Shields, we believe ALL students can learn and it is our job to help them to do so.

Shields is one of four elementary schools in the Cape Henlopen School District and is located in the beach town of Lewes, Delaware. The school opened in 1967 and is currently a K-5 Elementary School with our fifth grade students housed at the school directly across the street. We currently serve 720 students. Nineteen of our students are also serviced by the Sussex Consortium and have autism. These special needs students are mainstreamed in appropriate grade level classrooms throughout the school day.

Shield’s goals include having all students exceed the state standards in all academic areas. At the forefront of our success, is a master schedule that is based on treasuring every minute of our instructional time. This systematic approach to address the students’ needs provides daily small group instruction in reading and/or math for every student in the school. The struggling students receive remedial instruction and the on-grade level students are granted the opportunity to extend/refine their knowledge. Our highly-abled learners are enriched with STEM kits and literature circles during this time. Lastly, the schedule provides every grade level with a common planning time and ninety minutes to meet in PLCs each week.