Best Public Schools in Zip Code 19801

Zip code 19801 in Wilmington, Delaware is served by 7 schools—4 elementary schools (including K-8 and PK-K configurations) and 3 high schools—with a total enrollment of 3,475 students across traditional public, charter, and vocational-technical institutions.

For parents, the standout choice in this area is First State Montessori Academy, which ranks 2nd of 34 districts in the state with a 5-star rating, boasts ELA proficiency of 55-77% across grades, and has the lowest chronic absenteeism at just 5.0%—dramatically better than the state average of 17.1%. It also spends the least per student ($13,194), proving that school model and leadership matter more than funding. At the other extreme, Great Oaks Charter School is the most concerning, with a 50% graduation rate, 14.1% dropout rate, and 54.8% chronic absenteeism—all far worse than state averages. Howard High School of Technology offers a strong alternative for career-focused students, with a 97.1% graduation rate and low dropout rate, though its SAT proficiency is very low (4.31% math, 17.22% ELA), suggesting it prepares students for trades rather than college pathways.

Chronic absenteeism is a hidden crisis across most schools here: Freire Charter School (36.5%), Stubbs Early Education Center (24.3%), Maurice Pritchett Senior Academy (21.9%), and Kuumba Academy Charter School (19.7%) all exceed the state average, and these same schools show the worst academic outcomes. Math proficiency is critically low across the board—Howard HS at 4.31%, Kuumba at 8-10%, and even First State Montessori at 30-49%—indicating a systemic weakness. Notably, Christina School District schools like Maurice Pritchett spend $28,875 per student yet rank dead last statewide, while First State Montessori Academy achieves excellence at half the cost. This inverse relationship between spending and performance raises serious questions about resource utilization, and the declining rankings at most schools suggest urgent intervention is needed in attendance and math achievement.