Penn (William) High School

713 East Basin Road

New Castle, DE 19720

School District

Colonial
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by other on June 17, 2023

This school is mediocre at best. The building and facilities are reasonably well maintained. Chromebook computers with WiFi are provided for every student. However, most students seem more interested in play games, texting friends or watching TikTok videos on their phones than paying attention in class. Many students are rude, disrespectful, chronically late or absent. There’s bullying, occasional physical violence and once there was a shooting. Administration is more concerned with implementing Woke policies than maintaining discipline. While it is possible to receive an adequate education in vocational career pathways in construction, culinary, agriculture, etc and sports teams do well, more academically minded students or families with traditional values would probably not be satisfied with this high school.
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2020

Every week theres a fight in this school. Just last week there was s fight where 1 student had drugs on him. Also the new principal removed all program for integration students. No baking, carpentry no nothing. All they do is stuck in a class day!
Submitted by parent on May 30, 2018

I would rate this school a negative zero. NO wonder the children are performing below average and Penn is one of the worst schools in the school district. They need to start looking at making changes from the top up. I was told yesterday that when you are good friends or having good relationship with those that run the district then basically they can do what ever they want
Submitted by parent on November 02, 2017

As a senior student attending the University of Delaware I feel that my experiences at William Penn High school were subpar. After graduating from William Penn and transitioning into college I did not feel as though I was adequately prepared for this substantial change. Although I took most honors and AP classes offered at this school, teachers often focused on expecting the bare minimum from students; thus producing poor results.Despite the school's diverse population there seems to be a continuous "tracking" of colored students with an emphasis on strict and consistent punishment of black and hispanic students in comparison to that of their white peers. This school inevitably demonstrates a school-to-prison pipeline that consequently will not produce college and career ready students.
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2014

Love the staff! Teachers are dedicated and smart and want success for their students. My children are in the AP and honors classes.... would not be able to pay for a better education. The private schools can not offer anything more for my children. One child has graduated and is attending one of the top universities in country.
Submitted by student on June 05, 2014

I'd like to start by saying WP is not all that great. I'm going to be a senior next year and I sometimes wish I had picked a different school. It's mostly the administrator staff that ruins the experience. The principle there cares nothing more about the students than what they wear. He doesn't care if they're a good student that gets A's and B's he'll pick them out of a crowd and write them up for wearing a 'gang affiliated' bandannas. The teachers are to be commended however. I have never gotten a 'bad' teacher. They all do their job and do it well, though you may hear different about *some* teachers. I feel like the school could improve on their choice of principles and administrator staff and possibly the overall cleanliness? (There's roaches, mice and rats nearly in each room. The rooms don't look like they've been properly cleaned in years even) I wont even go into the students, a good majority of them aren't even worth mentioning.
Submitted by other on May 21, 2014

A Former student Going to william penn was an experience. some days where difficult, while some where great. The school Teaches very good and the teachers help. of course not all teachers are the same so there's going to be some teachers that aren't so good. but as a whole, william penn is a great school and I'm glad to be a 2014 graduate!
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2014

The School is a great education facility. If you listen to the outside stuff you will not give Wiliam Penn much of a chance. I challenge you to go to the school walk the halls. Meet the teachers administrators. It was a shock what I saw a bunch of caring people helping students. The school is so clean hallways bathrooms and classrooms. The learning atmosphere is such a great environment. Great place.. Compiment to allthe teachers and staff. My kids will attend William Penn.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2014

William Penn has gotten my children to become more active in sports and have an incentive to be dedicated to succeeding in their school work. They're GPA has increase significantly throughout the years and I think the teachers at William Penn were the sole reasoning behind that.
Submitted by other on April 15, 2012

It is apparent by the manner in which most of the students who have written a review, that WP is not living up to any sort of academic excellence. Most write as if they are in middle school at best, as opposed to being in high school. Sad, but this school is sorely lacking and I'm glad my children do not have to attend.
Submitted by student on January 08, 2012

Many of the students who find this school to be horrible either has never attended William Penn or has set themselves up for bad experiences there. It is a big school with a wide diversity of students and teachers who some how coexist very well considering it. Like all schools, there is fighting, pregnancies, and bad students but it is all at a very low rate considering its amount of students. As a student there who is very much involved in programs associated with the school (including it brilliant student council who's blood drives have been famously successful) I find the school to be as Awsome as a student will make it out to be. Students who expect things to be handed out to them easily and have erational standards of public schools or have failed a year, are disrespectful or lazy will be disappointed, but hardworking, open minded, polite and Involved students will forever consider themselves (proudly) a colonial. I enjoyed the diversity it provides, the excellent teachers, subject options that include many AP courses unavailable in many many schools like AP Psychology, extracurricular options, and experiences there. You should strongly consider sending your child here.