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Average

#143 of 219 schools in DE

Penn (william) High School

High School · Colonial School District

713 East Basin Road, New Castle, DE 19720

Enrollment

2,077

Student-Teacher

17.5:1

Score

5.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In New Castle

#7 of 14

public schools

Delaware high schools

#32 of 42

In district

#8 of 14

Colonial School District

Academic growth

9.1 / 10

Exceptional

About Penn (william) High School

Penn High School serves 2,077 students in grades 9-12 in New Castle, Delaware, making it one of the larger high schools in the state. With 119 full-time teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 17.5:1, providing reasonable class sizes for individual attention. The school faces significant academic challenges, with 32% of students demonstrating proficiency in English Language Arts and 12% achieving proficiency in mathematics.

Currently ranked 200th out of 220 Delaware high schools, Penn High School has substantial room for academic growth and is working to better serve its diverse student population. The school draws from a middle-class suburban community where the median household income is $72,424 and median home values reach $229,300. The surrounding ZIP code of 19720 houses over 60,000 residents, with 22% holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a relatively low poverty rate of 9.7%.

This stable residential area provides a foundation for community support. Despite current academic performance challenges, Penn High School's substantial size allows for potentially diverse programming opportunities, and its position within an established suburban neighborhood offers students access to community resources and stability. The school serves families in New Castle County's large suburban setting, where residential communities value educational investment and improvement.

What Parents Should Know

Penn (william) High School is a large school with 2,077 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.

While current test scores at Penn (william) High School are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.1Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.13 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics4.4Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency12%
Reading/ELA Proficiency32%
Overall Proficiency22%
Expected (poverty-adj.)32%
vs. Expected-9.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile25th
College Readiness4.5Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation12.7%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.3Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,934

Penn (william) High School — Students at Penn (william) High School score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores DE EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 14.3%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 30.7%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from DE state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
15%
ELA
30%
2021*
Math
16%
ELA
30%
2022
Math
12%
ELA
32%

* 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: 9.1/10.

How Penn (william) High School Compares

See how Penn (william) High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.6/10
35th percentile in DE
Academic
4.4/10
4.4/10
Growth
9.1/10
Above average
Environment
4.3/10
Below average

Location

713 East Basin Road, New Castle, DE 19720

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Penn (william) High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Conrad Schools of Science (rated 7.1/10, 3.8 miles away, in nearby Wilmington), which scores notably higher. Another option is Delaware Military Academy (rated 5.4/10, 3.7 miles away, in nearby Wilmington), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Pennsville Memorial High School (rated 4.0/10, 3.8 miles away, in nearby Pennsville), a more accessible option. For more schools in New Castle, see our New Castle schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Read (George) Middle School New Castle 0.6 mi 5.5
Downie (Carrie) Elementary School New Castle 0.5 mi 4.3
HARVEST CHRISTAIN ACADEMY, WILMINGTON New Castle 0.6 mi 9.1
New Castle Elementary School New Castle 0.8 mi 4.2
Wilmington Manor Elementary School New Castle 1.1 mi 5.8
ST PETER CATHOLIC SCHOOL New Castle 1.2 mi 7.9
Castle Hills Elementary School New Castle 1.3 mi 5.5
The Colwyck Center New Castle 1.9 mi 6.7
Leach (John G.) School New Castle 1.9 mi 7.6
Eisenberg (Harry O.) Elementary School New Castle 2.0 mi 5.7
McCullough (Calvin R. ) Middle School New Castle 2.5 mi 4.9
Pleasantville Elementary School New Castle 2.2 mi 7.7
Charter School of New Castle New Castle 2.2 mi 3.0
Delaware Military Academy Wilmington 3.7 mi 5.4
Richey Elementary School Wilmington 3.6 mi 7.9
Richardson Park Elementary School Wilmington 3.8 mi 6.1
Conrad Schools of Science Wilmington 3.8 mi 7.1
Penn Beach Elementary Pennsville 3.5 mi 4.7
FAIRWINDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Bear 3.7 mi 7.5
Pennsville Memorial High School Pennsville 3.8 mi 4.0

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Penn (william) High School has a median household income of $75,985. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $242,600, with a median rent of $1,282/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.1%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Milford Senior High School Milford, DE 5.7
Sussex Technical High School Georgetown, DE 5.3
Dover High School Dover, DE 6.3
Caesar Rodney High School Camden, DE 6.7
Smyrna High School Smyrna, DE 6.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Penn (william) High School

What grades does Penn (william) High School serve?

Penn (william) High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Penn (william) High School?

Penn (william) High School has an enrollment of approximately 2,077 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Penn (william) High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Penn (william) High School is 17.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Penn (william) High School rank in DE?

Penn (william) High School is ranked #143 out of 219 schools in DE.

What is Penn (william) High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Penn (william) High School has a composite rating of 5.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Penn (william) High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Penn (william) High School has 14.3% math proficiency and 30.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Penn (william) High School a charter school?

No, Penn (william) High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Penn (william) High School a Title I school?

No, Penn (william) High School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
52 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
45 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,909/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (New Castle). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,077
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
119
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
New Castle County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Colonial School District
District Enrollment
8,778
Schools in District
15
Per-Pupil Spending
$23,018
District Rank
#8 of 14

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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