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New Castle Court House MuseumPhoto: Ataraxy22 · CC BY-SA 3.0
C
Schools in New Castle · Colonial School District

New Castle’s public schools score below 74% of Delaware districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 14% of New Castle’s students scored proficient, below the Delaware average (29%). The grade covers the public school district serving New Castle, 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.

#32of 37 Delaware townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Delaware state tests taken in spring 2022, when 91% 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
29%
▼ 13 pts vs DE 42%
2021–22
Math proficiency
14%
▼ 15 pts vs DE 29%
2021–22
Graduate on time
83%
▼ 6 pts vs DE 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$23.8K
▲ 7% vs DE $22.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.4
DE 14.7
Schools in town
5
4,899 students on the public path
In brief

New Castle’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 39 Delaware towns with household incomes within a quarter of New Castle’s, its schools beat 8%, lower than their 26% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 29% of tested students were proficient in reading and 14% in math, against 42% and 29% statewide; 91% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

83% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89% across Delaware. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $23,840 per student, against $22,312 across Delaware (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then three middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 12% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Charter School of New Castle, Harvest Christian Academy (private) and Harvest Christian Academy New Castle (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 New Castle’s grade

C− Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 26% of Delaware school districts, #32 of 37 Delaware towns. Both inputs trail the Delaware average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Delaware school districts we grade (42)Better than 26%
Lower resultsHigher results
Delaware towns with similar household incomes (39)Better than 8%
C−C+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,822 test results and a graduating class of 600 could put New Castle anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 91% of New Castle’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,845 in math, 4,798 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to C−
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD to C+
9–12Penn (William) High SchoolColonial School DistrictC

New Castle’s public schools are run by Colonial School District, which also serves Delaware City and Wilmington. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

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

Reading29%
State average 42.2% · 4798 students tested
Math14%
State average 29.2% · 4845 students tested

New Castle vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
New CastleCColonial

Every school in New Castle

9 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 New Castleby address
New Castle Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
383 students13:1Rate it →
Downie (Carrie) Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
324 students13:1Rate it →
Also serving New Castlein other towns
Bedford (Gunning) Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
846 students15:1Rate it →
Read (George) Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
662 students14:1Rate it →
McCullough (Calvin R. ) Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
D
615 students18:1Rate it →
Penn (William) High School
High · Grades 9–12
C
2,069 students18:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Charter School of New Castle
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
Charter
788 students23:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Harvest Christian Academy
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
241 students21:1Rate it →
Harvest Christian Academy New Castle
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
225 students19:1Rate it →

Questions about New Castle’s schools

Are New Castle’s schools good?

On Delaware’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools New Castle children attend score below 74% of Delaware’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #32 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 New Castle in?

Colonial School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,575 students in 14 schools (2024–25).

Where do New Castle kids go to high school?

Penn (William) High School, with 2,069 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is New Castle’s graduation rate?

83% of the class of 2023 in Colonial School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Delaware.

How much does New Castle spend per student?

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

Are there private schools in New Castle?

Yes: Harvest Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 241 students) and Harvest Christian Academy New Castle (religious, grades PK–12, 225 students). New Castle also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What New Castle families are saying about school.

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Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near New Castle → 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.