Total enrollment
78,534
+642 (+1%) vs SY 2017-18
New Castle County
Delaware · Public K-12
In New Castle County, Delaware, the public-school system rolls up to 129 schools and roughly 78,534 K-12 students, with county median household income around $91,166. By level, that breaks down as 77 elementary, 17 middle, and 24 high schools.
7-year change in New Castle County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
125
+2 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
32%
was 39%
% Hispanic
20%
was 18%
% Black
35%
was 34%
% Asian
7%
was 6%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
129
21 districts
Enrollment
78,534
NCES CCD
Median income
$91,166
Above Delaware avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
77
33,080 students
Middle
17
11,875 students
High
24
23,751 students
Combined / other
11
9,828 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Red Clay Consolidated School District
14,444 students · 21 districts in New Castle County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of New Castle County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
39.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.8%
civilian labor
Median age
39
21.2% under 18
Test scores in New Castle County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 88 schools ranked. Delaware state average: 41.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Christiana High School· 86.7%
- Newark Charter School· 76.1%
- North Star Elementary School· 72.7%
- Calloway (Cab) School of the Arts· 72.2%
- MOT Charter School· 68.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in New Castle County
About New Castle County
Across the expansive Delaware county of New Castle County of about 577,961 residents, the public-school footprint covers 129 schools and about 78,534 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $91,166, roughly 40% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 11% above the Delaware median.
On the school-mix side, New Castle County is made up of 77 elementary schools (33,080 students), 17 middle schools (11,875), 24 high schools (23,751), and 11 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in New Castle County is Red Clay Consolidated School District, which alone enrolls about 14,444 students.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in New Castle County has held roughly steady since SY 2017-18, moving from about 77,892 students to 78,534. New Castle County now counts 125 public schools, up from 123 in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment decreased from 39% to 32%.
On this page, the community for New Castle County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
New Castle County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data