Summary:
Zip code 19810 in Wilmington, DE, is served by five schools in the Brandywine School District, including three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, with a total enrollment of roughly 3,300 students.
For families with elementary-aged children, Hanby Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking in the top 13% of Delaware elementary schools with exceptional ELA and math proficiency rates that far exceed district and state averages, plus the lowest chronic absenteeism in the area at just 8.1%. Lancashire Elementary School also performs well, particularly in 5th grade science and social studies, while Forwood Elementary School offers solid options with strengths in early math, though it trails its elementary peers overall. At the high school level, Concord High School is a rising star, improving to 6th in the state with a 91.8% graduation rate, a remarkably low 0.7% dropout rate, and an extraordinary SAT Essay proficiency of 76.6%—nearly 34 points above the state average. The main concern is Talley Middle School, which ranks in the 44th percentile and has seen declining scores over three years, particularly in 8th grade math (22.9% proficiency) and science (14.3% proficiency), though its low absenteeism suggests students remain engaged.
Across the zip code, a clear pattern emerges: elementary students thrive, but academic performance drops sharply in middle school before rebounding somewhat at Concord. Math proficiency falls from 34-72% in elementary grades to just 23-33% at Talley, highlighting a challenging transition period. Interestingly, per-student spending does not predict success—Forwood spends the most ($18,436) yet ranks lowest among elementary schools, while Hanby spends a mid-range amount and achieves the best results. Social studies is a consistent strength across all elementary schools, with all three exceeding state averages in 5th grade. For parents, this means the area offers excellent elementary options, a rapidly improving high school, but a middle school that may require additional academic support to bridge the gap.
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