Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Wilmington’s public schools score below 60% of Delaware districts on tests and graduation
Math proficiency in Wilmington’s districts is 24%, below the Delaware average (29%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Wilmington, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Delaware, not nationally.
From Delaware state tests taken in spring 2022, when 93% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Wilmington’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 27 Delaware towns with household incomes within a quarter of Wilmington’s, its schools beat 22%, lower than their 40% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 36% of tested students were proficient in reading and 24% in math, against 42% and 29% statewide; 93% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89% across Delaware. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Colonial spends $23,840 per student and Red Clay Consolidated $23,294, against $22,312 across Delaware (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Five elementary schools, then three middle and one high school
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Charter School of Wilmington, East Side Charter School, Edison (Thomas A.) Charter School, Kuumba Academy Charter School, First State Montessori Academy, Freire Charter School, Great Oaks Charter School, Ursuline Academy, Lower (private), Padua Academy (private), St. Elizabeth School (private), St. Ann School (private), St. Anthony of Padua Grade School (private), Urban Promise School (private), St. Peter Cathedral School (private), Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington (private), Darul Amaanah Academy (private), Serviam Girls Academy (private), Sharon Temple Adventist School (private), Urban Promise Academy (private) and Maranatha Christian Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Wilmington’s grade
C+: better than 40% of Delaware school districts, #26 of 37 Delaware towns. Graduation is above the Delaware average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Wilmington, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Wilmington · depends on your address
Stubbs Early Education Center
Grades PK–K · 148 students · 10:1 students per teacher
Pulaski Early Education Center
Grades PK–K · 93 students · 13:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Wilmington · depends on your address
Calloway (Cab) School of the Arts
Grades 6–12 · 941 students · 20:1 students per teacher
Maurice Pritchett SR. Academy
Grades 1–8 · 616 students
The Bayard School
Grades 1–8 · 571 students · 11:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Wilmington · depends on your address
Calloway (Cab) School of the Arts
Grades 6–12 · 941 students · 20:1 students per teacher
Maurice Pritchett SR. Academy
Grades 1–8 · 616 students
The Bayard School
Grades 1–8 · 571 students · 11:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Wilmington · depends on your address
Calloway (Cab) School of the Arts
Grades 6–12 · 941 students · 20:1 students per teacher
Maurice Pritchett SR. Academy
Grades 1–8 · 616 students
The Bayard School
Grades 1–8 · 571 students · 11:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Wilmington
Calloway (Cab) School of the Arts
Grades 6–12 · 941 students · 20:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Wilmington
Calloway (Cab) School of the Arts
Grades 6–12 · 941 students · 20:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Wilmington
Calloway (Cab) School of the Arts
Grades 6–12 · 941 students · 20:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Wilmington
Calloway (Cab) School of the Arts
Grades 6–12 · 941 students · 20:1 students per teacher
Parts of Wilmington (11% of its land) are served by Brandywine instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Wilmington
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Wilmington vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Delaware towns that share Wilmington’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | C+ | Colonial PK–12 · Red Clay Consolidated PK–12 · Christina PK–12 |
| Elsmere | B | Red Clay Consolidated |
Carneys Point, NJ, Penns Grove, NJ and Pennsville, NJ border Wilmington but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.
Every school in Wilmington
33 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Delaware’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (First State School).
Questions about Wilmington’s schools
Are Wilmington’s schools good?
On Delaware’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Wilmington children attend score below 60% of Delaware’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #26 of 37 Delaware towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 22%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Wilmington in?
Colonial School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,575 students in 14 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Wilmington are served by Brandywine.
Where do Wilmington kids go to high school?
Calloway (Cab) School of the Arts, with 941 students; its own test results earn an A+.
What is Wilmington’s graduation rate?
89% of the class of 2023 in Red Clay Consolidated School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Delaware.
How much does Wilmington spend per student?
$23,840 in Colonial School District, $23,294 in Red Clay Consolidated School District and $34,491 in Christina School District (FY2024), against $22,312 across Delaware. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Wilmington?
Yes: Ursuline Academy, Lower (Catholic, grades 3–8, 456 students), Padua Academy (catholic · all-girls, grades 9–12, 424 students), St. Elizabeth School (Catholic, grades PK–12, 415 students), St. Ann School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 231 students), St. Anthony of Padua Grade School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 182 students), Urban Promise School (religious, grades PK–12, 94 students), St. Peter Cathedral School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 70 students), Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington (catholic · all-boys, grades 5–8, 53 students), Darul Amaanah Academy (religious, grades PK–9, 51 students), Serviam Girls Academy (religious · all-girls, grades 5–8, 44 students), Sharon Temple Adventist School (religious, grades K–8, 33 students), Urban Promise Academy (religious, grades 8–12, 25 students) and Maranatha Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–10, 11 students). Wilmington also has 7 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Wilmington families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Wilmington → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Delaware. Stars are from neighbors.