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
Enrollment
2,077
Student-Teacher
17.5:1
Score
5.6
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
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 metricsView breakdown
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Penn (william) High School — Students at Penn (william) High School score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
0.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores DE EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from DE state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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.
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 15% (2019) to 12% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 30% (2019) to 32% (2022).
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 miNeighborhood 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
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
- Phone
- (302) 323-2800
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
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.
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