Colonial School District

318 East Basin Road
New Castle, DE 19720-4214
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Colonial School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Delaware for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public preschools serving 317 students in Colonial School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public pre schools in Delaware.
Public Preschools in Colonial School District have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the Delaware public pre school average of 19%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 23% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 78% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Delaware public preschool average of 60% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (DE)
# Schools
15 Schools
26 Schools
# Students
8,575 Students
7,248 Students
# Teachers
595 Teachers
716 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Colonial School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 42 school districts in Delaware (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 84% has increased from 80% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (DE)
#32 out of 42 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
15%
31%
29%
42%
11%
21%
84%
88%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.68
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
2%
4%
% Hispanic
24%
18%
% Black
46%
32%
% White
23%
40%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $23,970 is higher than the state median of $20,276. The school district revenue/student has grown by 18% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,146 is higher than the state median of $18,361. The school district spending/student has grown by 16% over four school years.
This School District
This State (DE)
Total Revenue
$206 MM
$2,882 MM
Spending
$190 MM
$2,610 MM
Revenue / Student
$23,970
$20,276
Spending / Student
$22,146
$18,361

Best Colonial School District Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Leach (John G.) School
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
10 Landers Lane
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 429-4055
Gr: PK-12 | 95 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: n/an/a
The Colwyck Center
12 Landers Lane
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 429-4085
Gr: PK | 222 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 82%

Recent Articles

AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 15 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 8,575 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 78%
  • : 84% (Top 50% in DE)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 15% (Btm 50%)
  • : 29% (Btm 50%)
  • : 11% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), DE Dept. of Education

Quick Links