Colonial School District

New Castle, Delaware — 14 schools

9,132
Total Enrollment
14
Schools
$21,668
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Colonial School District operates 14 public schools serving 9,132 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Delaware. The school portfolio breaks down into 8 elementary, 3 middle, 2 other, 1 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 8,575 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in New Castle County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $21,668 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 35.1% local, 53.5% state, and 11.4% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $96,881 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 48/100, ranked #12 of 40 in Delaware against a state average of 39 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 14 schools offering Advanced Placement (19 AP courses district-wide), a 337:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 46.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 44.6% African American, 25.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.3% White across the district's schools.

Penn (William) High School accounts for 24.1% of all Colonial School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Colonial School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Colonial School District school enrollment varies 22× across entities

Colonial School District school enrollment ranges from 95 students (lowest) to 2,069 students (highest), a spread of 1,974 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Colonial School District student-counselor ratio is 337:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Colonial School District is typically wider than the Colonial School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Colonial School District chronic absenteeism rate is 46.5% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

11.4%
Federal
53.5%
State
35.1%
Local

Funding Equity

48
Equity Score
12 / 40
State Rank
39
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in New Castle County county, where this district is located.

$1,397
Studio/mo
$1,520
1 BR/mo
$1,810
2 BR/mo
$2,170
3 BR/mo
$2,423
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$96,881
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 14 schools in Colonial School District.

White 22.3%
Hispanic or Latino 25.2%
African American 44.6%
Asian 2.2%
Multiracial 5.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 14
Schools with AP
19 AP courses total
337:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
46.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Colonial School District

School Enrollment
Penn (William) High School
2,069
Wilbur (Kathleen H.) Elementary
1,052
Bedford (Gunning) Middle School
846
Southern Elementary School
729
Read (George) Middle School
662
Mccullough (Calvin R. ) Middle School
615
Castle Hills Elementary School
462
Eisenberg (Harry O.) Elementary School
436
Pleasantville Elementary School
389
New Castle Elementary School
383
Downie (Carrie) Elementary School
324
Wilmington Manor Elementary School
291
The Colwyck Center
222
Leach (John G.) School
95

Nearby Districts in Delaware

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Christina School District
13,092 students · 28 schools · $30,267/pupil
Compare vs Colonial School District →
Appoquinimink School District
12,804 students · 20 schools · $21,233/pupil
Compare vs Colonial School District →
Indian River School District
10,799 students · 16 schools · $21,100/pupil
Compare vs Colonial School District →
Brandywine School District
10,367 students · 17 schools · $21,794/pupil
Compare vs Colonial School District →

Compare Colonial School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Red Clay Consolidated School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Colonial School District?

Colonial School District has 14 schools, including 1 high, 8 elementary, 3 middle, 2 other. Total enrollment is 9,132 students.

How much does Colonial School District spend per student?

Colonial School District spends $21,668 per student. The district has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #12 in Delaware.

What is the average teacher salary in Colonial School District?

The average teacher salary in Colonial School District is $96,881 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Colonial School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in New Castle County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Colonial School District?

Colonial School District students are 44.6% African American, 25.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.3% White, 2.2% Asian, averaged across 14 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Colonial School District?

Colonial School District has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #12 out of 40 districts in Delaware. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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