Best Public Schools in Zip Code 19702

Zip code 19702 in Newark, Delaware, is served by 8 schools—6 elementary schools and 2 high schools—enrolling 4,828 students across the Christina School District, the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District, and the charter school Academia Antonia Alonso.

For parents, the standout choice is Marshall (Thurgood) Elementary School, which ranks in the 75th percentile statewide with 4 stars. It posts the area’s highest ELA proficiency (56.8% average), strong math scores (51.2% average), and the lowest chronic absenteeism at 9.8%—all while spending just $13,704 per student, the second-lowest in the area. Keene (William B.) Elementary School is the most improved, climbing to the 69th percentile with a 14.5-point jump in 5th grade ELA. Jones (Albert H.) Elementary School also performs well, with ELA proficiency near 60%. In contrast, Brader (Henry M.) Elementary School and Leasure (May B.) Elementary School lag behind, with ELA averages around 41% and 40%, respectively. The high schools are a concern: Glasgow High School ranks in the bottom 7% of Delaware high schools, with a 74.6% graduation rate, 20.7% chronic absenteeism, and 0% SAT math proficiency. Hodgson (Paul M.) Vocational Technical High School fares better on engagement—97.4% graduation and 12.1% absenteeism—but its test scores are still below state averages.

Key takeaways: Elementary schools in this zip code generally outperform their district averages, especially in 5th grade social studies, where several schools exceed 64% proficiency. However, there is a stark drop-off at the high school level, likely tied to the absence of any middle schools in the area, forcing students to transition directly from K-5 or K-8 settings. Spending does not predict success—Leasure Elementary spends $20,320 per student yet scores poorly, while Marshall Elementary achieves top results on a much tighter budget. Academia Antonia Alonso, a charter, ranks in the bottom 10% with math proficiency below 25% in all grades. For parents, the elementary options in the Christina district are solid, but the high school choices require careful consideration, especially regarding math readiness and graduation outcomes.