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Below Average

#194 of 219 schools in DE

New Castle Elementary School

Elementary School · Colonial School District

903 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE 19720

Enrollment

388

Student-Teacher

12.5:1

Score

4.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Delaware schools

#194 of 219

In New Castle

#13 of 14

public schools

In district

#13 of 14

Colonial School District

School environment

7.0 / 10

Very Good

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New Castle Elementary School

4.5/10

Elementary School in New Castle · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Harvest Christain Academy, Wilmington

9.1/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Downie (carrie) Elementary School

4.6/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About New Castle Elementary School

New Castle Elementary School is a public elementary school in New Castle, DE, part of Colonial School District. New Castle Elementary School serves approximately 388 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio. New Castle Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #194 of 219 schools in DE.

Structured state assessment records for New Castle Elementary School show 27% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2025) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2025).

How it compares1.1 pts below district
  • This school 4.5 · Below Average
  • District avg 5.6
  • DE avg 6.7

What Parents Should Know

36% of students at New Castle Elementary School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.7Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-3.23 pts/yr
Data Period2013–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.3Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency22.6% (2025 DESSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency22.3% (2025 DESSA)
Math vs. State Avg-31.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-32.8 pts
Overall Proficiency22% (2025 DESSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2025 DESSA)
vs. Expected-10.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile24th
Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,018
Chronic Absenteeism36.1%

New Castle Elementary School — Students at New Castle Elementary School score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores DE DESSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 26.8% (multi-year average, 2013-2025)
School
State
43.4% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)
ELA Proficiency 33.5% (multi-year average, 2013-2025)
School
State
48.9% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)

Based on 77 test records from DE state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2013
Math
65%
ELA
65%
2014
Math
39%
ELA
45%
2015
Math
40.4%
ELA
47.1%
2016
Math
40.9%
ELA
50.3%
2017
Math
32.9%
ELA
45.2%
2018
Math
28.4%
ELA
42.2%
2019
Math
28%
ELA
34%
2020*
Math
12%
ELA
22%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
23.9%
2022
Math
8.5%
ELA
13.6%
2023
Math
7.8%
ELA
13.7%
2024
Math
18.8%
ELA
21.7%
2025
Math
23.3%
ELA
22%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.7/10.

How New Castle Elementary School Compares

See how New Castle Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.5/10
12th percentile in DE
Academic
4.3/10
Below Average
Growth
3.7/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
7.0/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
31 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
36.1%

Location

903 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE 19720

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering New Castle Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ST PETER CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Richey Elementary School (rated 7.4/10, 4.2 miles away, in nearby Wilmington), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Eisenberg (Harry O.) Elementary School (rated 7.3/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in New Castle, see our New Castle schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.2 mi
School Distance Rating
HARVEST CHRISTAIN ACADEMY, WILMINGTON New Castle 0.2 mi 9.1
Downie (Carrie) Elementary School New Castle 0.3 mi 4.6
ST PETER CATHOLIC SCHOOL New Castle 0.4 mi 7.9
Penn (William) High School New Castle 0.8 mi 4.5
Castle Hills Elementary School New Castle 1.2 mi 5.8
Read (George) Middle School New Castle 1.2 mi 4.6
Wilmington Manor Elementary School New Castle 1.5 mi 5.9
The Colwyck Center New Castle 1.7 mi 7.8
Leach (John G.) School New Castle 1.7 mi 4.6
Eisenberg (Harry O.) Elementary School New Castle 1.9 mi 7.3
Charter School of New Castle New Castle 1.7 mi 6.1
McCullough (Calvin R. ) Middle School New Castle 2.4 mi 3.9
Penn Beach Elementary Pennsville 2.7 mi 6.6
Pennsville Memorial High School Pennsville 3.0 mi 3.9
Pleasantville Elementary School New Castle 2.9 mi 5.5
Pennsville Middle School Pennsville 3.1 mi 7.1
Delaware Military Academy Wilmington 4.0 mi 6.2
Richardson Park Elementary School Wilmington 4.2 mi 5.6
Central Park Elementary School Pennsville 3.4 mi 3.3
Richey Elementary School Wilmington 4.2 mi 7.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19720 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$75,985

Median Home Value

$242,600

Median Rent

$1,282/mo

Population

60,593

College Educated

21.6%

Homeownership

67.2%

Avg Commute

26.2 min

Poverty Rate

10.1%

Median Age

39.7

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Downie (Carrie) Elementary School New Castle, DE 4.6
North Dover Elementary School Dover, DE 4.6
Banneker (Benjamin) Elementary School Milford, DE 4.3
Brick Mill Elementary School Middletown, DE 4.2
Booker T. Washington Elementary School Dover, DE 5.1
Maple Lane Elementary School Claymont, DE 5.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about New Castle Elementary School

What grades does New Castle Elementary School serve?

New Castle Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend New Castle Elementary School?

New Castle Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 388 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at New Castle Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at New Castle Elementary School is 12.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does New Castle Elementary School rank in DE?

New Castle Elementary School ranks #194 of 219 schools in DE.

What is New Castle Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

New Castle Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at New Castle Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, New Castle Elementary School has 27% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2025) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2025).

Is New Castle Elementary School a charter school?

No, New Castle Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is New Castle Elementary School a Title I school?

No, New Castle Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
66 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
66 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
388
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
31
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
New Castle County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
36.1%

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