Colonial School District, DE

Original Research by School Decision on Colonial School District

Colonial School District sits in New Castle County, Delaware, serving students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade across a stretch of communities including New Castle, Bear, Delaware City, and parts of Wilmington and Middletown. The district enrolls a sizable student body spread across roughly fifteen schools, with William Penn High School as its single secondary campus, three middle schools, and a larger group of elementary buildings plus a couple of specialized centers.

The student population is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic presence and a smaller white enrollment, plus small shares of Asian, multiracial, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. The demographic mix reflects the working-class and mid-income communities the district draws from. Free and reduced-price lunch counts were not reported in the available data, nor were English learner or special education rates, so a parent wanting to understand the economic and linguistic makeup of the student body would need to ask the district directly.

On state assessments, Colonial's results are genuinely weak. In the most recent reported year, fewer than one in five tested students reached proficiency in math, and roughly one in four did so in English language arts. Science proficiency was strikingly low, with only about one in ten students meeting the bar. Social studies results from the prior year showed a similar pattern, with proficiency ranging from the high teens to the high twenties depending on grade level. Looking at the multi-year trend in ELA, the district's proficiency has fallen considerably from where it stood a decade ago and has settled into the low-to-mid twenties in recent years, with the newest results at the lower end of that band. Math has hovered in the teens for several consecutive years. These are not numbers that suggest a district where most students are meeting grade-level expectations.

When placed among New Castle County's districts, Colonial sits below the midpoint on overall proficiency and in the bottom quartile for chronic absenteeism, with a rate notably above the county median. That combination of low academic performance and elevated absenteeism is a real concern. At the same time, the district's per-pupil spending sits in the upper range among county districts, meaning resources are being directed here at a level above many neighbors. The gap between that investment and the outcomes on the page is something a parent may want to look into further with the district, asking how those dollars are being used and what the improvement plan looks like.

A graduation rate was not available in the provided data, which limits the picture of how the district performs at the high school level. The district brief turned up no lasting parent-relevant changes from recent years beyond basic profile information, and no program offerings data was available, so questions about AP access, career pathways, dual credit, or specialized academic programs would need to go directly to the district.

The housing market across the district's territory is moderately priced relative to the state as a whole. Home values sit below the Delaware benchmark, and the district spans a range from more affordable pockets in Wilmington and New Castle to pricier areas near Middletown. Rents are generally manageable, with the typical rent-to-income ratio sitting under a third. For a family weighing where to live, the district's footprint offers relatively accessible housing compared with some neighboring areas, though the academic results are a central consideration.

Colonial is a district with real diversity, solid per-pupil investment, and a broad geographic reach across northern Delaware communities. The academic outcomes, though, are well below where most families would want them, and the absenteeism rate compounds the challenge. A parent considering this district should ask hard questions about the instructional strategy, the supports for students who are behind, and what the trajectory of improvement looks like.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

8,778

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 22%

Black 45%

White 25%

Asian 2%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

16%

28%

Gr 4

17%

25%

Gr 5

24%

35%

Gr 6

16%

23%

Gr 7

22%

26%

Gr 8

17%

23%

Gr 38

18%

27%

Math

Gr 3

20%

31%

Gr 4

19%

29%

Gr 5

11%

21%

Gr 6

14%

Gr 7

12%

19%

Gr 8

15%

Gr 38

13%

21%

Science

Gr 5

18%

Gr 8

Gr 38

11%

Schools in this District

15 schools are officially reported under this district.

Southern Elementary School

Leach (John G.) School

Wilmington Manor Elementary School

Pleasantville Elementary School

Eisenberg (Harry O.) Elementary School

The Colwyck Center

Castle Hills Elementary School

Downie (Carrie) Elementary School

Read (George) Middle School

Bedford (Gunning) Middle School

Penn (William) High School

Wilbur (Kathleen H.) Elementary

McCullough (Calvin R. ) Middle School

New Castle Elementary School

The Wallace Wallin School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

18%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

24%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

Grades 3-8

Social Studies

3 grades reported

24%

Grade 4

28%

Grade 6

18%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$348,073

Year-over-year change+2.5%

Range across 11 ZIP codes$181K to $534K

vs. state typical0.86x

vs. national typical0.95x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (11 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
19720	New Castle	$280K	+1.3%	48.9%
19709	Middletown	$534K	+3.2%	17.1%
19701	Bear	$421K	+3.7%	15.8%
19713	Newark	$314K	+3.5%	3.6%
19706	Delaware City	$295K	+3.0%	3.3%
19731	Port Penn	$287K	+8.9%	3.3%
19702	Newark	$353K	+2.6%	2.6%
19809	Wilmington	$318K	+1.7%	2.6%
19801	Wilmington	$181K	+4.1%	2.2%
19802	Wilmington	$201K	-0.6%	0.4%
19733	New Castle	$302K	+12.3%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,039/mo

Year-over-year change+3.5%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$1,509 to $2,756/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
19720	New Castle	$1,726	—	48.9%
19709	Middletown	$2,756	+0.5%	17.1%
19701	Bear	$2,396	+7.0%	15.8%
19713	Newark	$1,824	+3.9%	3.6%
19702	Newark	$1,916	+2.5%	2.6%
19809	Wilmington	$1,670	+4.8%	2.6%
19801	Wilmington	$1,913	+1.3%	2.2%
19802	Wilmington	$1,509	+4.7%	0.4%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,756/mo

Home price / national median income4.2x

Annual rent / national median income29.2%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$283/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$405,836 (+1.8% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.