📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
All 5 Rated Districts in New Castle County, DE
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Appoquinimink School District | Odessa | 10/10 Excellent | 91st |
| #2 | Red Clay Consolidated School District | Wilmington | 8/10 Good | 72nd |
| #3 | Brandywine School District | Wilmington | 6/10 Average | 59th |
| #4 | Christina School District | Newark | 3/10 Below Average | 28th |
| #5 | Colonial School District | New Castle | 1/10 Poor | 3rd |
Best School Districts in New Castle County, Delaware (2026)
This page lists the 5 public school districts headquartered in New Castle County, Delaware that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using EDFacts 2021–22 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in Delaware, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in New Castle County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in New Castle County, Delaware? ▼
Among the 5 rated districts in New Castle County, Delaware, the highest-rated is Appoquinimink School District (Odessa), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 91st percentile of Delaware districts on EDFacts 2021–22 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (EDFacts 2021–22), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in Delaware and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.