Public schools in New Castle, DE
15 open public schools with an address in New Castle, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
15
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
8,311
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.3:1
Delaware median 14.6:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of New Castle public schools
The federal directory lists 15 public schools in New Castle, DE: 8 elementary, 3 middle, 1 high, 3 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 8,311 students, an average of 554 per school. The largest campus is Penn (William) High School (2,069 students), and the largest elementary school is Charter School of New Castle (788).
Colonial School District operates the most schools here (14), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 13.3:1, lower than the statewide school median of 14.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving New Castle
Elementary schools in New Castle
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Hills Elementary School Colonial School District | KG–05 | 462 | 12.2:1 | |
| Charter School of New Castle Charter School of New Castle · Charter | KG–08 | 788 | 22.5:1 | |
| Downie (Carrie) Elementary School Colonial School District | KG–05 | 324 | 13:1 | |
| Eisenberg (Harry O.) Elementary School Colonial School District | KG–05 | 436 | 13.6:1 | |
| New Castle Elementary School Colonial School District | KG–05 | 383 | 13.2:1 | |
| Pleasantville Elementary School Colonial School District | KG–05 | 389 | 13.4:1 | |
| Southern Elementary School Colonial School District | KG–05 | 729 | 12.8:1 | |
| Wilmington Manor Elementary School Colonial School District | KG–05 | 291 | 13.2:1 |
Middle schools in New Castle
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford (Gunning) Middle School Colonial School District | 06–08 | 846 | 15.1:1 | |
| McCullough (Calvin R. ) Middle School Colonial School District | 06–08 | 615 | 17.6:1 | |
| Read (George) Middle School Colonial School District | 06–08 | 662 | 13.5:1 |
High schools in New Castle
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn (William) High School Colonial School District | 09–12 | 2,069 | 17.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in New Castle
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leach (John G.) School Colonial School District · Special Education School | PK–12 | 95 | 6.3:1 | |
| The Colwyck Center Colonial School District | PK–PK | 222 | 8.9:1 | |
| The Wallace Wallin School Colonial School District · Special Education School | UG–UG | 0 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White20.2%
- Hispanic22.7%
- Black50.5%
- Asian1.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial4.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 14 New Castle schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (8,311 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in New Castle
How many public schools are in New Castle, DE?
The current NCES directory lists 15 open public schools with a location address in New Castle: 8 elementary, 3 middle, 1 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 8,311 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve New Castle?
Schools with an address in New Castle belong to 2 education agencies, led by Colonial School District (14 schools), Charter School of New Castle (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in New Castle?
Penn (William) High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in New Castle, with 2,069 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in New Castle?
Yes. 1 of the 15 public schools in New Castle are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Charter School of New Castle. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in New Castle schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across New Castle public schools is 13.3:1, lower than the Delaware school median of 14.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in New Castle guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Delaware cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Delaware cities