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WHITE HALL, BEAR, NORTHERN NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DEPhoto: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0
C−
Schools in Bear · Christina School District, Colonial School District

Bear’s public schools score below 76% of Delaware districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 20% of Bear’s students scored proficient, below the Delaware average (29%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Bear, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Delaware, not nationally.

#34of 37 Delaware townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Delaware state tests taken in spring 2022, when 92% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
33%
▼ 10 pts vs DE 42%
2021–22
Math proficiency
20%
▼ 9 pts vs DE 29%
2021–22
Graduate on time
73%
▼ 16 pts vs DE 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$34.5K
▲ 55% vs DE $22.3K
FY2024 · Christina
Students per teacher
12.8
DE 14.7 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
11,635 students on the public path
In brief

Bear’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 40 Delaware towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bear’s, its schools beat 8%, lower than their 24% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 33% of tested students were proficient in reading and 20% in math, against 42% and 29% statewide; 92% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

73% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89% across Delaware. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Christina spends $34,491 per student and Colonial $23,840, against $22,312 across Delaware (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Bear’s grade

C Test scoresD− Graduation

C−: better than 24% of Delaware school districts, #34 of 37 Delaware towns. Both inputs trail the Delaware average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Delaware school districts we grade (42)Better than 24%
Lower resultsHigher results
Delaware towns with similar household incomes (40)Better than 8%
C−CA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 11,807 test results and a graduating class of 829 could put Bear anywhere from C− to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 92% of Bear’s students in the tested grades sat them (11,854 in math, 11,759 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bear, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to C
6–89 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD− to A
9–124 high schoolsDepends on your addressD to A

Bear runs its own schools through grade 12 (Christina School District). From grade PK, students attend the Colonial School District, shared with Delaware City, New Castle and Wilmington. Its middle school is in Newark. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Bear

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Christina School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 28 schools · 12,954 students · 11.8 per teacher (DE 14.7)
$34,491DE $22,312 · FY2024
C−
Colonial School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 14 schools · 8,575 students, down 12% since 2020–21 · 14.4 per teacher (DE 14.7)
$23,840DE $22,312 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Christina School District35%
State average 42.2% · 6961 students tested
Math · PK–12, Christina School District24%
State average 29.2% · 7009 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Colonial School District29%
State average 42.2% · 4798 students tested
Math · PK–12, Colonial School District14%
State average 29.2% · 4845 students tested

Bear vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Delaware towns that share Bear’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BearC−Christina PK–12 · Colonial PK–12

Every school in Bear

14 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Delaware’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Bearby address
Oberle (William) Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
512 students13:1Rate it →
Leasure (May B.) Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Newark
C
316 students11:1Rate it →
Also serving Bearin other towns
Maurice Pritchett SR. Academy
Elementary · Grades 1–8 · Wilmington
D−
616 studentsRate it →
The Bayard School
Elementary · Grades 1–8 · Wilmington
D−
571 students11:1Rate it →
Christiana High School
High · Grades 6–12 · Newark
A
1,425 students17:1Rate it →
Bedford (Gunning) Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · New Castle
C+
846 students15:1Rate it →
Shue-Medill Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Newark
C+
763 students12:1Rate it →
Gauger-Cobbs Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Newark
C−
681 students11:1Rate it →
Read (George) Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · New Castle
C
662 students14:1Rate it →
McCullough (Calvin R. ) Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · New Castle
D
615 students18:1Rate it →
Kirk (George V.) Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Newark
C−
612 students12:1Rate it →
Penn (William) High School
High · Grades 9–12 · New Castle
C
2,069 students18:1Rate it →
Newark High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Newark
B
1,039 students15:1Rate it →
Glasgow High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Newark
D
908 students18:1Rate it →

Questions about Bear’s schools

Are Bear’s schools good?

On Delaware’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Bear children attend score below 76% of Delaware’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #34 of 37 Delaware towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 8%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bear in?

Two districts: Christina School District runs grades PK–12, and Colonial School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Delaware City, New Castle and Wilmington.

Where do Bear kids go to high school?

One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: Penn (William) High School, Christiana High School, Newark High School and Glasgow High School.

What is Bear’s graduation rate?

73% of the class of 2023 in Christina School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Delaware.

How much does Bear spend per student?

$34,491 in Christina School District and $23,840 in Colonial School District (FY2024), against $22,312 across Delaware. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Bear families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bear → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Delaware. Stars are from neighbors.