Best Public Schools in Zip Code 19720

Zip code 19720 in New Castle, Delaware, is served by 13 schools—8 elementary, 3 middle, 1 high, and 1 alternative school—enrolling about 7,349 students, with 12 schools belonging to the Colonial School District and one independent Charter School of New Castle.

For parents, the standout elementary schools are Eisenberg (Harry O.) Elementary School and Pleasantville Elementary School. Eisenberg leads the area with 5th grade ELA proficiency at 44.26% and math at 35.48%, both near or above state averages, while Pleasantville shows the most dramatic improvement over three years and boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism in the dataset at just 8.1%. Wilmington Manor Elementary School also posts strong attendance (9.2% chronic absenteeism) and competitive 3rd grade ELA scores. In contrast, Downie (Carrie) Elementary School remains persistently in the bottom 15% statewide, with 4th grade math proficiency at just 10%. The middle schools present a stark challenge: McCullough (Calvin R. ) Middle School is the lowest-performing school in the dataset, with 8th grade science at 3.07% and chronic absenteeism at 39.7%, while Bedford (Gunning) Middle School and Read (George) Middle School perform somewhat better but still lag state averages significantly. Penn (William) High School, the largest school with 2,069 students, shows only 9.4% SAT math proficiency and a 37% chronic absenteeism rate.

Notably, the Charter School of New Castle offers a mixed picture—it has the highest student-teacher ratio (22.5) and a concerning 24-point drop in 5th grade math, yet its 5th grade social studies proficiency (65.38%) exceeds the state average. Social studies is an unexpected bright spot across the area, with Pleasantville (66.18%) and Bedford (64.43% in 7th grade) also exceeding state benchmarks. The Leach (John G.) School, an alternative school, spends an extraordinary $123,173 per student—nine times the district average—yet still faces 43.8% chronic absenteeism and a 10.3% dropout rate, suggesting engagement, not resources, is the critical issue. Overall, the district shows a clear achievement cliff between elementary and middle school, especially in math and science, but the success of schools like Eisenberg and Pleasantville proves that strong outcomes are achievable in this area.