Let’s talk about the facts.
Delco Youth Diversion Report (2023)
In Delco, there were 854 referrals in 2022. 14% involved weapons and 32% were school-related. BIPOC students are more likely to be suspended or arrested. 64% of reported school-referrals result in misdemeanors, 33% are felonies, and 3% are public orders. BIPOC youth are 3.8 times more likely to be referred to juvenile probation compared to white youth. In 2022, Marcus Hook (99), Chester (91), Upper Darby (60), Darby (54), and Brookhaven (51) had the highest number of referrals.
Delco Youth Diversion Report (2023)
Almost 43% of referrals were sourced from the magisterial district judge (152), Upper Darby Township Police (104), Upper Chichester Township Police (63), and Haverford Township Police (48) combined. Children as young as 10 years old and almost 400 teens between 16-17 years old were taken into custody.
Juvenile Court Annual Report (2023)
Delco had a total of 780 delinquency dispositions in 2023 and over 87% were in school. 150 dispositions included students under the 9th grade, 116 in the 9th grade, 198 in the 10th grade, 137 in the 11th grade, 110 in the 12th grade. Nearly 65% were Black.
Education - Children First
A Decade of Stalled Progress: Opportunity Stunted for Children in Delco (2025)
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45% of third graders can read proficiently in Delco. Specifically in Upper Darby, Southeast Delco, William Penn and Chester-Upland school districts, nearly 33% of third graders are reading on their grade level.
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Nearly 30% of 8th graders can pass math assessments. The math proficiency rate is under 20% for William Penn, Upper Darby, Southeast Delco, Chichester, and Chester-Upland school districts — this is a crisis point for five of the lowest income school districts.
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CTE programs are difficult for students to access due to funding challenges. 5% of high school students in the county are enrolled in career and technical education programs. The low enrollment number impacts their process in attaining a higher education or skilled career.
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Impoverished and low-income neighborhoods are hit the hardest. Underfunded schools deprive students of well-quality educational opportunities. The county’s total school funding shortfall was measured at over $175 million, including 6 school districts that qualified for needing additional funds to adequately educate students in 2024.
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School safety has been a growing concern in the county. It is an annual challenge for our underfunded school districts to bring essential resources and programs to schools that will positively impact students’ academic growth and behavior because of low funds.
T.O.P. Data
In collaboration with Safe Corridors, we are collecting countywide data to prioritize community and school safety. If you are a student, parent, educator, Delco employee, EMS worker, and/or resident — take a few minutes to complete our survey!
