Edison (Thomas A.) Charter School

Edison (Thomas A.) Charter School is a single K-8 charter school in Wilmington, DE, serving 557 students within its own district, the Edison (Thomas A.) Charter School district.

For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that Edison (Thomas A.) Charter School consistently ranks in the bottom 1-3% of all Delaware schools, placing 105th out of 106 schools in the most recent ranking year. Academic proficiency rates are dramatically below state averages across every subject and grade level, with gaps ranging from roughly 20 to 52 percentage points. For example, only 8.2% of 3rd graders and 7.35% of 4th graders are proficient in math, compared to state averages above 40%. Reading scores are similarly low, with 6th grade ELA proficiency at 12.9% versus the state's 39.07%. The largest single gap is in 5th grade social studies, where just 9.43% of students are proficient versus a 61.85% state average. The school does show some bright spots, such as a notable spike in 7th grade social studies proficiency (35.59%) and gradual improvement in ELA from 6th to 8th grade, but these are isolated exceptions to an otherwise consistent pattern of underperformance.

Interestingly, the school has an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 2.5% compared to the state average of 17.1%, meaning students are showing up to class but still struggling academically. This points to challenges with instructional quality, curriculum, or resource allocation rather than attendance issues. The school spends $12,255 per student and maintains a reasonable 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio, which raises questions about how funds are being used. There is also significant year-over-year volatility in test scores, including a 20.8-point drop in 8th grade ELA proficiency between school years. Parents should be aware that the consistent, school-wide academic struggles suggest systemic issues that would likely require comprehensive reform efforts to address.