Downes (John R.) Elementary School (Ranked Top 20% for 2025)

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Downes (John R.) Elementary School

220 Casho Mill Road
Newark, DE 19711

( shown in map)

Top 20%

Serving 357 students in grades Kindergarten-5, Downes (John R.) Elementary School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in Delaware for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).

The percentage of students achieving is 45% (which is higher than the Delaware state average of 29%). The percentage of students achieving is 55% (which is higher than the Delaware state average of 42%).

The student:teacher ratio of 12:1 is lower than the Delaware state level of 14:1.

Minority enrollment is 56% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is lower than the Delaware state average of 61% (majority Black).

Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 357 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 12:1
Minority Enrollment: 56%
: Top 20% in DE
: 45% (Top 30%)
: 55% (Top 20%)
: 25-29% (Top 30%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), DE Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Downes (John R.) Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Delaware for:

School Overview

Downes (John R.) Elementary School's student population of 357 students has declined by 29% over five school years.

The teacher population of 29 teachers has declined by 14% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Downes (John R.) Elementary School
Kind	52
1	46
2	67
3	70
4	57
5	65

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Total Students

357 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School
2023	385
2022	430
2021	413
2020	508
2019	508
2018	483
2017	483
2016	473
2015	474
2014	450
2013	458
2012	466
2011	517
2010	449
2009	375
2008	374
2007	525
2006	525
2005	547
2004	517
2003	512
2002	518
2001	604
2000	625
1999	646
1998	629
1997	488
1996	479
1995	483
1994	478
1993	555
1992	535
1991	530
1990	537
1989	474
1988	485
1987	453

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

29 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School
2023	32
2022	31
2021	33
2020	34
2019	34
2018	30
2017	30
2016	25
2015	29
2014	27
2013	31
2012	33
2011	33
2010	31
2009	27
2008	26
2007	30
2006	32
2005	38
2004	32
2003	32
2002	31
2001	34
2000	35
1999	36
1998	33
1997	29
1996	26
1995	26
1994	28
1993	31
1992	30
1991	29
1990	26
1989	26
1988	28
1987	29

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School Calendar

School Rankings

Downes (John R.) Elementary School ranks within the top 20% of all 201 schools in Delaware (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Downes (John R.) Elementary School is 0.72, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (DE)

#32 out of 201 schools
(Top 20%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School
2022	#32
2021	#51
2019	#41
2018	#52
2017	#41
2016	#37
2015	#21
2014	#38
2013	#41
2012	#40
2011	#33

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45%

29%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2022	45%	29%	24%
2021	32%	27%	22%
2019	66%	42%	34%
2018	59%	43%	32%
2017	62%	44%	32%
2016	60%	43%	30%
2015	64%	39%	30%
2014	79%	70%	61%
2013	82%	70%	60%
2012	85%	73%	63%
2011	81%	62%	51%

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55%

42%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2022	55%	42%	35%
2021	47%	42%	33%
2019	58%	53%	38%
2018	60%	54%	32%
2017	62%	54%	40%
2016	67%	55%	39%
2015	72%	52%	36%
2014	89%	73%	64%
2013	85%	73%	63%
2012	84%	74%	64%
2011	75%	62%	50%

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25-29%

21%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2022)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2022	27%	21%	14%
2021	15%	24%	14%

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Student : Teacher Ratio

12:1

14:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2023	12:1	14:1	12:1
2022	14:1	14:1	12:1
2021	13:1	14:1	12:1
2020	15:1	15:1	12:1
2019	15:1	15:1	12:1
2018	16:1	15:1	14:1
2017	16:1	15:1	14:1
2016	19:1	15:1	15:1
2015	16:1	14:1	14:1
2014	17:1	15:1	13:1
2013	15:1	15:1	13:1
2012	14:1	15:1	14:1
2011	16:1	15:1	14:1
2010	14:1	15:1	14:1
2009	14:1	15:1	14:1
2008	14:1	15:1	14:1
2007	18:1	16:1	17:1
2006	16:1	16:1	15:1
2005	14:1	16:1	15:1
2004	16:1	16:1	16:1
2003	16:1	16:1	16:1
2002	17:1	16:1	17:1
2001	18:1	16:1	16:1
2000	18:1	16:1	17:1
1999	18:1	17:1	17:1
1998	19:1	17:1	17:1
1997	17:1	17:1	18:1
1996	18:1	17:1	18:1
1995	19:1	17:1	18:1
1994	17:1	17:1	18:1
1993	18:1	17:1	18:1
1992	18:1	18:1	18:1
1991	19:1	18:1	18:1
1990	21:1	18:1	18:1
1989	18:1	18:1	18:1
1988	17:1	17:1	17:1
1987	16:1	17:1	17:1

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American Indian

n/a

Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2023	11%	4%	6%
2022	10%	4%	6%
2021	12%	4%	6%
2020	11%	4%	6%
2019	11%	4%	6%
2018	8%	5%	5%
2017	8%	5%	5%
2016	9%	4%	5%
2015	7%	4%	5%
2014	7%	4%	5%
2013	7%	4%	5%
2012	8%	3%	5%
2011	6%	4%	5%
2010	7%	4%	6%
2009	7%	4%	5%
2008	8%	4%	5%
2007	6%	3%	5%
2006	6%	3%	4%
2005	6%	3%	5%
2004	6%	3%	4%
2003	7%	4%	4%
2002	7%	2%	4%
2001	3%	2%	4%
2000	4%	2%	3%
1999	4%	2%	3%
1998	4%	2%	4%
1997	4%	2%	3%
1996	4%	2%	3%
1995	4%	2%	3%
1994	5%	2%	3%
1993	4%	2%	3%
1992	4%	2%	3%
1991	4%	2%	2%

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Hispanic

18%

20%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2023	18%	19%	22%
2022	17%	19%	21%
2021	13%	18%	22%
2020	13%	18%	23%
2019	13%	18%	23%
2018	12%	17%	22%
2017	12%	17%	22%
2016	11%	16%	21%
2015	9%	15%	21%
2014	10%	15%	19%
2013	9%	14%	19%
2012	8%	13%	18%
2011	8%	13%	17%
2010	6%	11%	15%
2009	7%	11%	15%
2008	5%	10%	13%
2007	7%	10%	12%
2006	6%	9%	12%
2005	3%	9%	11%
2004	4%	8%	10%
2003	4%	7%	9%
2002	4%	7%	8%
2001	2%	6%	7%
2000	2%	5%	6%
1999	2%	5%	5%
1998	2%	5%	4%
1997	1%	4%	4%
1996	2%	4%	4%
1995	2%	4%	4%
1994	1%	3%	3%
1993	1%	3%	3%
1992	1%	3%	3%
1991	1%	3%	3%

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Black

22%

31%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2023	22%	31%	42%
2022	21%	30%	41%
2021	18%	30%	40%
2020	20%	30%	39%
2019	20%	30%	39%
2018	19%	30%	40%
2017	19%	30%	40%
2016	18%	31%	40%
2015	19%	31%	39%
2014	21%	31%	40%
2013	20%	31%	39%
2012	20%	32%	41%
2011	18%	32%	41%
2010	26%	33%	42%
2009	21%	33%	43%
2008	27%	33%	43%
2007	22%	33%	43%
2006	27%	33%	42%
2005	27%	32%	40%
2004	28%	32%	39%
2003	28%	31%	37%
2002	25%	31%	35%
2001	30%	31%	34%
2000	31%	31%	35%
1999	26%	30%	34%
1998	24%	30%	31%
1997	21%	29%	32%
1996	19%	29%	31%
1995	20%	29%	29%
1994	20%	28%	28%
1993	23%	28%	28%
1992	24%	27%	27%
1991	25%	27%	27%

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White

44%

39%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2023	42%	41%	25%
2022	46%	42%	27%
2021	47%	42%	27%
2020	48%	44%	27%
2019	48%	44%	27%
2018	55%	45%	29%
2017	55%	45%	29%
2016	57%	46%	31%
2015	61%	47%	32%
2014	59%	48%	33%
2013	62%	49%	35%
2012	62%	50%	35%
2011	65%	50%	36%
2010	61%	52%	37%
2009	65%	52%	37%
2008	60%	53%	39%
2007	64%	54%	40%
2006	60%	55%	42%
2005	63%	56%	44%
2004	62%	57%	47%
2003	61%	58%	50%
2002	64%	60%	53%
2001	65%	61%	55%
2000	63%	62%	56%
1999	68%	63%	58%
1998	70%	63%	61%
1997	74%	65%	61%
1996	75%	65%	62%
1995	74%	65%	64%
1994	74%	67%	66%
1993	72%	67%	66%
1992	71%	68%	67%
1991	70%	68%	68%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2023	6%	5%	5%
2022	5%	5%	5%
2021	9%	5%	5%
2020	8%	4%	5%
2019	8%	4%	5%
2018	6%	3%	4%
2017	6%	3%	4%
2016	5%	3%	3%
2015	4%	3%	3%
2014	3%	2%	3%
2013	1%	2%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.72

0.71

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2023	0.73	0.70	0.71
2022	0.71	0.70	0.72
2021	0.71	0.70	0.72
2020	0.70	0.69	0.73
2019	0.70	0.69	0.73
2018	0.64	0.68	0.71
2017	0.64	0.68	0.71
2016	0.63	0.67	0.70
2015	0.58	0.66	0.69
2014	0.60	0.67	0.70
2013	0.57	0.65	0.69
2012	0.57	0.64	0.69
2011	0.54	0.64	0.68
2010	0.56	0.61	0.66
2009	0.53	0.61	0.66
2008	0.57	0.61	0.65
2007	0.54	0.59	0.65
2006	0.56	0.59	0.64
2005	0.53	0.58	0.63
2004	0.54	0.57	0.62
2003	0.55	0.57	0.61
2002	0.53	0.54	0.60
2001	0.49	0.53	0.58
2000	0.51	0.52	0.57
1999	0.47	0.52	0.55
1998	0.46	0.51	0.53
1997	0.41	0.50	0.52
1996	0.40	0.50	0.52
1995	0.41	0.49	0.51
1994	0.41	0.48	0.49
1993	0.43	0.47	0.49
1992	0.44	0.47	0.48
1991	0.45	0.46	0.47

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

35%

33%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2023	32%	34%	49%
2022	29%	34%	48%
2021	30%	35%	49%
2020	24%	36%	48%
2019	24%	36%	48%
2016	26%	38%	43%
2015	29%	37%	41%
2014	30%	39%	43%
2013	33%	47%	55%
2012	30%	43%	52%
2011	29%	42%	53%
2010	33%	40%	50%
2009	26%	33%	43%
2008	26%	30%	37%
2007	18%	31%	34%
2006	26%	31%	38%
2005	23%	29%	35%
2004	22%	28%	30%
2003	27%	29%	34%
2002	25%	28%	31%
2001	17%	26%	26%
2000	18%	27%	28%
1999	15%	28%	27%
1998	15%	30%	29%
1997	22%	30%	28%
1996	21%	29%	28%
1995	22%	29%	28%
1994	19%	27%	26%
1993	23%	25%	25%
1992	20%	21%	19%
1991	17%	19%	18%

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Eligible for (12-13)

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2013)
Year	Downes (John R.) Elementary School	Delaware	Christina School District
2013	3%	5%	6%
2012	5%	6%	7%
2011	5%	6%	7%
2010	4%	7%	9%
2009	6%	7%	9%
2008	4%	6%	6%
2007	3%	6%	5%
2006	3%	5%	5%
2005	4%	6%	6%
2004	4%	6%	6%
2003	6%	7%	8%
2002	6%	6%	7%
2001	4%	6%	6%
2000	4%	6%	5%
1999	6%	6%	5%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Christina School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), DE Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Downes (John R.) Elementary School's ranking?

Downes (John R.) Elementary School is ranked #32 out of 201 schools, which ranks it among the top 20% of public schools in Delaware.

What schools are Downes (John R.) Elementary School often compared to?

Downes (John R.) Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like West Park Place Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

45% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 29% DE state average), while 55% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 42% DE state average).

How many students attend Downes (John R.) Elementary School?

357 students attend Downes (John R.) Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

44% of Downes (John R.) Elementary School students are White, 22% of students are Black, 18% of students are Hispanic, 9% of students are Asian, and 7% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student:teacher ratio of Downes (John R.) Elementary School?

Downes (John R.) Elementary School has a student ration of 12:1, which is lower than the Delaware state average of 14:1.

What grades does Downes (John R.) Elementary School offer ?

Downes (John R.) Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Downes (John R.) Elementary School part of?

Downes (John R.) Elementary School is part of Christina School District.

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Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 357 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 12:1
Minority Enrollment: 56%
: Top 20%
: 45% (Top 30%)
: 55% (Top 20%)
: 25-29% (Top 30%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), DE Dept. of Education