Delcastle Technical High School
Encyclopedia
Delcastle Technical High School is a vocational-technical high school in Wilmington, Delaware
and is the largest of four high schools within the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District
, which includes Howard High School of Technology
in Wilmington, Hodgson Vo-Tech High School
in Glasgow, and St. Georges Technical High School
in St. Georges. It is among the largest high schools in New Castle County, Delaware
, with 1,532 students currently enrolled in grades nine through twelve.
and houses the medical, foreign language studies, and business technology programs.
•The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
recognized the school's Pillars for Career Success (for grade 10) as a "Superstars in Education" winning program.
•Delcastle has received full Middle States accreditation.
•In 2003, Delcastle's yearbook, The Artisan, was the first yearbook
in the state of Delaware to be offered in full-color.
• In 2008, the Culinary Arts Department's Cooks and Bakers received the National Education Association's "Best High School Event" for their Reading Across America community service program.
• In 2009, the girls' basketball team won the Delaware State Championship, ending a state title-drought that stretched back to 1996 when the school claimed a championship in girls' track and field.
The school utilizes a block-scheduling format in which students study different academic courses in the fall semester and spring semester.
In addition, there are academies at each grade level that are part of the daily school program, from the Delcastle Freshmen Transition Academy; better known as the DFTA, to Careers in Motion for seniors.
Supplemental to academics are the co-op experience, giving students the opportunity to work in a related business during the school day and take academic courses. In the past, students have worked at well-established places such as Bank of America
and Christiana Care. Many students continue employment after graduation at these places while pursuing higher education.
Moreover, articulation programs have been established with regional post-secondary institutions so that students are able to earn college credit for technical instruction acquired in high school. Some of these institutions include Delaware Technical and Community College, University of Delaware
, Wilmington University
, and Cecil College
.
, Christiana High School
, Glasgow High School
, Middletown High School, Newark High School
, and William Penn High School
.
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
and is the largest of four high schools within the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District
New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District
New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District is a public vocational-technical school district serving New Castle County, Delaware. Each year, one-fourth of all eighth-grade students attending New Castle County public schools apply for admission to a vo-tech high school...
, which includes Howard High School of Technology
Howard High School of Technology
Howard High School of Technology is a vocational-technical high school in Wilmington, Delaware and is the oldest of four high schools within the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District, which includes Delcastle Technical High School in Newport, Hodgson Vo-Tech High School in Glasgow,...
in Wilmington, Hodgson Vo-Tech High School
Hodgson Vo-Tech High School
Paul M. Hodgson Vocational-Technical High School is a vocational-technical school in Newark, Delaware and is among four high schools within the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District, which includes Delcastle Technical High School in Newport, Howard High School of Technology in...
in Glasgow, and St. Georges Technical High School
St. Georges Technical High School
St. Georges Technical High School is a vocational-technical high school in Middletown, Delaware and is the newest of four high schools within the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District, which includes Delcastle Technical High School in Newport, Howard High School of Technology in...
in St. Georges. It is among the largest high schools in New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
, with 1,532 students currently enrolled in grades nine through twelve.
Brief history
Delcastle Technical opened its doors in the fall of 1969; however, the completion of the auditorium and district offices was not achieved until 1972. Its unique name is the result of a contest that asked people to help name the school. The winning entry was the idea of one student to combine "Delaware" and "New Castle County." The school is arranged by three distinct wings: A, B, and C. The "A" Wing consists of industrial, construction, and automotive-related career fields as well as Technical Drafting; the "B" Wing houses Digital Media (including the television studio), Graphic Arts, Culinary Arts, Business Technology, Cosmetology, Production & Imagining and additional classrooms. The "C" Wing generally comprises academic classrooms, yet does include some career programs such as Chemical Laboratory and Dental Assisting. Additionally, Delcastle Technical's campus includes the Marshallton building in Marshallton, DelawareMarshallton, Delaware
Marshallton is an unincorporated community in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The community was founded in 1836 and is named for John Marshall, mill owner.-Geography:...
and houses the medical, foreign language studies, and business technology programs.
School Achievements
•Among the first in the country to be part of the automotive industry's work-based learning program, Auto-YES.•The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
recognized the school's Pillars for Career Success (for grade 10) as a "Superstars in Education" winning program.
•Delcastle has received full Middle States accreditation.
•In 2003, Delcastle's yearbook, The Artisan, was the first yearbook
Yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
in the state of Delaware to be offered in full-color.
• In 2008, the Culinary Arts Department's Cooks and Bakers received the National Education Association's "Best High School Event" for their Reading Across America community service program.
• In 2009, the girls' basketball team won the Delaware State Championship, ending a state title-drought that stretched back to 1996 when the school claimed a championship in girls' track and field.
Academic and Career Studies
Students of Delcastle Technical are offered various academic courses that meet or exceed current state requirements in addition to intensive career training in elected fields. Students select a career program during the spring semester of their freshman year.The school utilizes a block-scheduling format in which students study different academic courses in the fall semester and spring semester.
In addition, there are academies at each grade level that are part of the daily school program, from the Delcastle Freshmen Transition Academy; better known as the DFTA, to Careers in Motion for seniors.
Supplemental to academics are the co-op experience, giving students the opportunity to work in a related business during the school day and take academic courses. In the past, students have worked at well-established places such as Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
and Christiana Care. Many students continue employment after graduation at these places while pursuing higher education.
Moreover, articulation programs have been established with regional post-secondary institutions so that students are able to earn college credit for technical instruction acquired in high school. Some of these institutions include Delaware Technical and Community College, University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
, Wilmington University
Wilmington University
Wilmington University is a private educational institution, with its main campus located in New Castle near Wilmington, Delaware. It was founded in 1968 as Wilmington College and was granted university status on September 10, 2007, after approval by the Board of Trustees and the Middle States...
, and Cecil College
Cecil College
Cecil College is a community college in North East, Maryland, named for its location in Cecil County.-History:Cecil Community College was founded in 1968 to meet the educational needs of Cecil County residents...
.
Graduation Requirements
| Number Required by State | 22.00 |
|---|---|
| Number Required by School | 24.50 |
| Average Credits Earned | 30.30 |
| Maximum Credits Earned | 34.50 |
Academic Courses
A typical student's schedule includes all required courses in the selected career program of study as well as all required academic courses in English, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, safety/health, and foreign language if requested. Delcastle's academic curriculum is sufficient to provide its students the necessary skills needed for a post-secondary education.Career Programs of Study
Students at Delcastle Technical choose a Program of Study in a career field that provides specific vocational/technical training. Course selection is based on the program of study chosen. Cooperative work experience is a part of the program of study during the senior year, which allows senior students to work in business and industry and receive credit. There are 23 career programs offered at Delcastle Technical, spanning six "clusters":Business, Communication, and Computers Cluster
- Business Technology
- Digital Media
- Graphic Arts
Construction Cluster
- Carpentry
- Electrical Trades
- General Construction
- Plumbing
- Sheet Metal Fabrication
- Welding/Fabrication Technologies
- Technical Drafting
Health Services Cluster
- Dental Assisting
- Medical Assisting
- Nursing Technology
- Practical Nursing
Public and Consumer Services Cluster
- Cosmetology
- Production and Imaging Technologies
- Graphic Communications
- Digital Media
- Culinary Arts
Science, Energy, and Drafting Technologies Cluster
- Chemical Lab Technology
- Electronics
- Technical Drafting
Sample Student Semester Schedule
| Class Period | Course |
|---|---|
| 01 | Pre-Calculus |
| 02 | Pre-Calculus |
| 03 | Physics |
| 04 | Physics |
| 05 | General Psychology |
| 06 | Digital Media 12 |
| 07 | Digital Media 12 |
| 08 | Digital Media 12 |
Extracurricular activities
Delcastle Technical offers a wide array of athletics and clubs to complement students academic and technical studies.Athletics
Delcastle fields eighteen varsity sport teams that compete in Blue Hen Conference, Flight "A", which includes: A. I. duPont High School, Charter School of WilmingtonCharter School of Wilmington
The Charter School of Wilmington is a high school in Wilmington, Delaware, one of the first public/private charter schools in the United States, opening in 1996. It occupies the third floor and a wing of the second floor of the former Wilmington High School building...
, Christiana High School
Christiana High School
Christiana High School is a public high school in Newark, Delaware. The school has been awarded Blue Ribbon School status.-History :Founded in 1963, Christiana High School is one of three high schools in the Christina School District . It is located on the outskirts of Newark, Delaware...
, Glasgow High School
Glasgow High School (Delaware)
Glasgow High School is one of the three public high schools belonging to Christiana School District, and is located in Newark, Delaware...
, Middletown High School, Newark High School
Newark High School (Delaware)
Newark High School is a public high school in Newark, Delaware and is one of three high schools within the Christina School District. It is also one of the oldest educational institutions in the state, graduating its first class of students in 1893. In 2009 it saw its 20,000th student graduate...
, and William Penn High School
William Penn High School (Delaware)
William Penn High School, also known and referred to as William Penn or simply Penn is a four-year comprehensive, coeducational public high school located in New Castle, Delaware, United States. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and a member of the...
.
| Season | Varsity Athletics Offered |
|---|---|
| Fall | Football, Men's Soccer, Field Hockey, Women's Volleyball, Men's & Women's Cross Country. |
| Winter | Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Indoor Track and Field, Wrestling. |
| Spring | Baseball, Softball, Women's Soccer, Men's Lacrosse, Golf, Men's & Women's Track and Field. |
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities
- Student Government, National Honor Society, Drama, "Trademark" Newspaper, Yearbook, SkillsUSA (a national vocational organization), Business Professionals of America, Cheerleading, Future Educators of America, Mock Trial, Cooks and Bakers, Crusaders for Christ, District Band, Book Club, Y.E.L.L. & KBG, Science Olympiad, Chess Club, Dance Team.