Downes (John R.) Elementary School

220 Casho Mill Road
Newark, DE 19711

www.christinak12.org/DownesES

385 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

John R. Downes Elementary School, located in Newark, Delaware, is a prominent member of the Christina School District. Serving students in grades K-5, the school is well-regarded for its commitment to academic excellence and its focus on creating a supportive, inclusive learning environment. The school prioritizes a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes literacy, mathematics, and critical thinking skills, while also fostering social-emotional development to ensure students are prepared for both middle school and long-term success.

Beyond the classroom, Downes Elementary is known for its active school community and dedicated staff. The school encourages family engagement through a strong PTA and various extracurricular opportunities that enrich the student experience. By blending traditional educational rigor with a focus on character development and community involvement, John R. Downes Elementary strives to cultivate a positive and nurturing atmosphere where students feel encouraged to explore their interests and reach their full potential.

385

Total Students

32.4

Full-Time Teachers

11.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Downes (John R.) Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	161
Hispanic	69
Black	85
Asian	42
Two or More	25
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	1

White
161 (41.8 %)
Black
85 (22.1 %)
Hispanic
69 (17.9 %)
Asian
42 (10.9 %)
Two or More
25 (6.5 %)
American Indian
2 (0.5 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Christina School District
Phone:	(302)454-2133
Website:	http://www.christinak12.org/DownesES
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	385
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	32.4
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	11.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 44

Grade 1 73

Grade 2 75

Grade 3 64

Grade 4 64

Grade 5 65