Best Schools in New Castle, Indiana
11 schools · 7 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in New Castle?
Use this page to compare every school in New Castle by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Westwood Elementary School
Elementary · New Castle Community School Corp. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Heartland Christian School
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School
Elementary · New Castle Community School Corp. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in New Castle for 2026 are Westwood Elementary School (7.5/10), Heartland Christian School (7.2/10), and James Whitcomb Riley Elem School (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
11
9 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$131,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
11
9 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$131,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 6.4/10 despite 69% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.2 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among New Castle schools.
Top-Rated Schools in New Castle
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (10 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westwood Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Heartland Christian School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | James Whitcomb Riley Elem School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Blue River Valley Elementary Sch | 6.4 / 10 |
| 5 | New Castle High School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Wilbur Wright Elementary School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Eastwood Elementary School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 8 | New Castle Middle School | 5.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Blue River Valley Jr-sr High Sch | 4.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Parker Elementary School | 3.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $56,564
- Median home value
- $131,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 15%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 73%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How New Castle compares
Indiana rank
#144 of 218
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below Indiana avg (6.3)
Median household income
$57k
79% of Indiana median
Schools in this city
10
About Schools in New Castle, Indiana
New Castle, Indiana is home to 11 schools, including 9 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in New Castle show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in New Castle is Westwood Elementary School with a composite score of 7.5/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
New Castle is served by 2 school districts: Blue River Valley Schools, New Castle Community School Corp. These districts collectively serve 3,563 students.
New Castle's community shows 15% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $56,564. The poverty rate in the area is 14.3%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 272 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | 253 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.1 | ||
| 3 | 317 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.4 | ||
| 4 | 327 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.4 | ||
| 5 | 280 students · Pre-K–6th | 5.9 | ||
| 6 | 285 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.4 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Agape Learning Center
Private
10 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | — | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 633 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 824 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 |
| 2 | 297 students · 7th–12th | 4.9 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heartland Christian School
Private
174 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.2 |
Schools in New Castle
New Castle, Indiana · 11 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$56,564
Median Home Value
$131,800
Median Rent
$792/mo
Population
29,442
College Educated
15%
Homeownership
73%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
14.3%
Community Profile
New Castle has a median household income of $56,564. It is a community where 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $131,800, with a median rent of $792/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.3%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Indiana
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
- Other
- 1
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Indiana
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in New Castle, Indiana
How many schools are in New Castle, Indiana?
New Castle has 11 schools, including 9 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in New Castle, Indiana?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in New Castle is 6.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in New Castle, Indiana?
The top-ranked school in New Castle on MySchoolScout is Westwood Elementary School with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in New Castle, Indiana?
The top-ranked elementary school in New Castle on MySchoolScout is Westwood Elementary School with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best middle school in New Castle, Indiana?
The top-ranked middle school in New Castle on MySchoolScout is New Castle Middle School with a composite score of 5.0/10.
What is the best high school in New Castle, Indiana?
The top-ranked high school in New Castle on MySchoolScout is New Castle High School with a composite score of 6.4/10.
How many school districts serve New Castle, Indiana?
New Castle is served by 2 school districts: Blue River Valley Schools, New Castle Community School Corp.
What is the education level in New Castle, Indiana?
According to Census data, 15% of adults in New Castle have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in New Castle, Indiana?
The median household income in New Castle is approximately $56,564 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in New Castle, Indiana?
Yes, New Castle has 2 private schools alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is Heartland Christian School with a score of 7.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in New Castle, Indiana?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in New Castle is 13.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in New Castle, Indiana?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Indiana Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.