Delcastle Technical High School

Brief history

Delcastle Technical High School 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, Delaware 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 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.

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 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.

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

Construction Cluster

Health Services Cluster

Public and Consumer Services Cluster

Science, Energy, and Drafting Technologies Cluster

Transportation Cluster

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: Appoquinimink High School, A. I. duPont High School, Charter School of Wilmington, Concord High School, Glasgow High School (through Spring 2013), Hodgson Vo-Tech High School (starting in Fall 2013), Middletown High School, Newark High School, and William Penn High School.

Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities

Notable Alumni