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Downes (John R.) Elementary School

Q: Is Downes (John R.) Elementary School a good school?

Downes (John R.) Elementary School ranks 43 rd of 109 Delaware elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

43^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 109 Delaware Elementary Schools

Better than 61% of Delaware elementary schools

Summary

Downes (John R.) Elementary School is a public elementary school in Newark, Delaware, serving 357 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school is part of the Christina School District, which is ranked 17 out of 32 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Downes Elementary consistently outperforms the district and state averages in standardized test scores, particularly in mathematics and social studies. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 43.94% of 4th-grade students and 31.03% of 5th-grade students were proficient or better in math, compared to the district and state averages. The school also excels in specific student subgroups, ranking highly for female, white, and low-income students. However, Downes faces challenges with chronic absenteeism, which has ranged from 18.9% to 25.6% over the past few years.

While Downes Elementary generally outperforms other schools in the Christina School District, such as Gallaher (Robert S.) Elementary and Smith (Jennie E.) Elementary, it is surpassed by Wilson (Etta J.) Elementary, which consistently ranks among the top-performing schools in the state. Additionally, Downes Elementary's spending per student of $14,743 in the 2018-2019 school year is lower than some nearby schools, such as Maclary (R. Elisabeth) Elementary and Brader (Henry M.) Elementary.

346

Students ?

11.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,294

Per pupil spending ?

26.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

220 Casho Mill Road
Newark, DE 19711

(302) 454-2133

District: Christina School District

Students who attend Downes (John R.) Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Shue-Medill Middle School
High:	Newark High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

38.7%

African American:

24.6%

Hispanic:

19.9%

See top rated Delaware elementary schools

Compare Downes (John R.) Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 80th percentile in 2015 → 61st in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Delaware median (61st percentile)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 19 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg35%

Delaware avg40%

43^rd of 109

Delaware public elementary schools ?

Top 39%▼ down 19 pts since 2015

From top 20% (2015) to top 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Delaware Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 16Elementary Schools in the Christina School District

17^th of 32Christina School District among Delaware districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2025	51.8	43 of 109	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.2	30 of 106	71.7%	★★★★☆
2023	59.9	36 of 103	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.2	29 of 104	72.1%	★★★★☆
2021	66.0	25 of 95	73.7%	★★★★☆
2019	73.0	25 of 105	76.2%	★★★★☆
2018	74.9	19 of 85	77.6%	★★★★☆
2017	77.9	18 of 86	79.1%	★★★★☆
2016	77.5	19 of 86	77.9%	★★★★☆
2015	77.3	22 of 108	79.6%	★★★★☆
2013	76.2	21 of 91	76.9%	★★★★☆
2012	73.9	24 of 90	73.3%	★★★★☆
2011	76.9	19 of 91	79.1%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2024	57.9	21 of 62	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.4	16 of 72	77.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2025	69.7	26 of 97	73.2%	★★★★☆
2024	64.1	28 of 97	71.1%	★★★★☆
2023	70.4	21 of 89	76.4%	★★★★☆
2022	64.5	26 of 90	71.1%	★★★★☆
2021	75.2	13 of 67	80.6%	★★★★☆
2019	77.1	18 of 99	81.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2024	67.5	11 of 66	83.3%	★★★★☆
2023	45.6	34 of 66	48.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.1	22 of 62	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.1	48 of 92	47.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2025	27.5	69 of 97	28.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.3	44 of 97	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.5	53 of 89	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.0	30 of 90	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.3	37 of 67	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.6	41 of 99	58.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2025	72.0	19 of 77	75.3%	★★★★☆
2024	40.9	46 of 73	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	74.9	15 of 70	78.6%	★★★★☆
2022	69.5	21 of 75	72.0%	★★★★☆
2021	58.1	23 of 65	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.7	25 of 82	69.5%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)83rd percentile+12 vs school

White (2025)75th percentile+15 vs school

Female (2025)73rd percentile+13 vs school

African American (2024)66th percentile-6 vs school

Male (2025)29th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs Delaware (2024-2025) ?

Social Studies50%+5 vs state

English Language Arts43%~ state avg

Mathematics38%~ state avg

Science20%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Downes (John R.) Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				DeSSA Science (2025)	DeSSA Social Studies (2025)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	DeSSA Science 5th Grade	DeSSA Social Studies 4th Grade	DeSSA Social Studies 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Total
Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Public	K-5	220 Casho Mill Road	Newark	19711	New Castle County	Christina School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 454-2133	346	31	11.1		134 (38.7%)	85 (24.6%)	69 (19.9%)	35 (10.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.4%)	51.8	43^rd of 109 public elementary schools	60.6%		65.2	30^th of 106 public elementary schools	71.7%	13	20.3	46.2	54.6	34.3	51.5	43.1	39.4	43.9	31.0	$27,294
West Park Place Elementary School	Public	K-5	193 West Park Place	Newark	19711	New Castle County	Christina School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 454-2290	350	27	12.9		128 (36.6%)	101 (28.9%)	41 (11.7%)	45 (12.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (10.0%)	83.3	20^th of 109 public elementary schools	81.7%		78.4	19^th of 106 public elementary schools	82.1%	1	43.8	51.7	72.9	55.8	62.7	56.3	57.4	62.3	43.8	$25,094
McVey (Joseph M.) Elementary School	Public	K-5	908 Janice Drive	Newark	19713	New Castle County	Christina School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 454-2145	319	28	11.3		98 (30.7%)	135 (42.3%)	64 (20.1%)	9 (2.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.8%)	39.7	59^th of 109 public elementary schools	45.9%		36.1	65^th of 106 public elementary schools	38.7%	6	22.9	19.6	51.0	46.8	36.5	40.8	39.7	30.8	24.0	$31,338
Maclary (R. Elisabeth) Elementary School	Public	K-5	300 St. Regis Drive	Newark	19711	New Castle County	Christina School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 454-2142	244	23	10.6		80 (32.8%)	61 (25.0%)	84 (34.4%)	7 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.9%)	41.4	57^th of 109 public elementary schools	47.7%		35.4	67^th of 106 public elementary schools	36.8%	10	26.1	27.5	38.1	46.2	27.3	32.6	47.2	37.8	32.6	$35,752
Brookside Elementary School	Public	K-5	800 Marrows Road	Newark	19713	New Castle County	Christina School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 454-5454	260	26	10.0		50 (19.2%)	85 (32.7%)	97 (37.3%)	10 (3.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.5%)	36.1	65^th of 109 public elementary schools	40.4%		33.8	68^th of 106 public elementary schools	35.8%	3	12.5	28.6	54.6	32.7	42.2	40.5	35.2	25.5	29.2	$34,709
Smith (Jennie E.) Elementary School	Public	K-5	142 Brennen Drive	Newark	19713	New Castle County	Christina School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 722-2864	413	40	10.3		130 (31.5%)	123 (29.8%)	107 (25.9%)	29 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	21 (5.1%)	40.5	58^th of 109 public elementary schools	46.8%		43.3	56^th of 106 public elementary schools	47.2%	2	18.2	25.0	47.3	44.4	34.7	40.0	40.5	29.0	40.0	$28,999
Brader (Henry M.) Elementary School	Public	K-5	1899 South College Avenue	Newark	19702	New Castle County	Christina School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 552-6200	324	27	12.0		72 (22.2%)	127 (39.2%)	88 (27.2%)	8 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (9.0%)	26.1	79^th of 109 public elementary schools	27.5%		24.3	79^th of 106 public elementary schools	25.5%		9.4	28.6	41.5	36.5	27.3	34.0	36.5	26.9	13.0	$33,115
Wilson (Etta J.) Elementary School	Public	K-5	14 Forge Road	Newark	19711	New Castle County	Christina School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 454-2180	271	21	12.9		123 (45.4%)	63 (23.2%)	47 (17.3%)	14 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	22 (8.1%)	86.7	11^th of 109 public elementary schools	89.9%		85.8	15^th of 106 public elementary schools	85.8%	4	62.2	52.0	80.6	55.3	57.7	70.3	50.0	60.4	62.2	$27,584
Forest Oak Elementary School	Public	K-5	55 South Meadowood Drive	Newark	19711	New Castle County	Red Clay Consolidated School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 454-3420	429	33	13.2		139 (32.4%)	30 (7.0%)	235 (54.8%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.1%)	44.2	54^th of 109 public elementary schools	50.5%		35.6	66^th of 106 public elementary schools	37.7%	12	32.9	25.7	60.6	22.2	38.9	52.1	37.3	34.7	28.8	$24,451
Gallaher (Robert S.) Elementary School	Public	K-5	800 North Brownleaf Road	Newark	19713	New Castle County	Christina School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 454-2464	469	49	9.5		123 (26.2%)	148 (31.6%)	140 (29.9%)	29 (6.2%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (5.5%)	39.2	61^st of 109 public elementary schools	44.0%		36.4	64^th of 106 public elementary schools	39.6%	3	22.0	16.3	49.4	36.3	41.5	38.5	39.1	36.9	31.9	$29,427

Frequently Asked Questions about Downes (John R.) Elementary School

Is Downes (John R.) Elementary School a good school?

Downes (John R.) Elementary School ranks 43^rd of 109 Delaware elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Downes (John R.) Elementary School in?

Christina School District

What is the racial makeup of Downes (John R.) Elementary School?

Students at Downes (John R.) Elementary School are 39% White, 25% African American, 20% Hispanic, 10% Asian, 6% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Downes (John R.) Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Downes (John R.) Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Shue-Medill Middle School
High : Newark High School

How many students attend Downes (John R.) Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 346 students attended Downes (John R.) Elementary School.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Delaware Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.