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Excellent

#34 of 219 schools in DE

Top 15% in state

First State Montessori Academy

Elementary School · First State Montessori Academy

1000 North French Street NULL, Wilmington, DE 19801

Charter

Enrollment

643

Student-Teacher

17.9:1

Score

8.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Wilmington

#7 of 50

public schools

Delaware elementary schools

#29 of 119

Academic growth

9.5 / 10

Exceptional

About First State Montessori Academy

First State Montessori Academy serves 643 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in Wilmington, Delaware. This public charter school operates with a student-teacher ratio of 17.9:1 and 36 full-time equivalent teachers, bringing Montessori educational principles to the public school setting. The school demonstrates solid academic performance, earning a 7.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking 49th out of 220 schools statewide, placing it in the 78th percentile among Delaware elementary schools.

Students show particular strength in English Language Arts, with 65% achieving proficiency or above across grade levels. Mathematics presents an area with room for growth, where 43% of students perform at proficient levels or higher. First State Montessori Academy draws families from the surrounding community, where the median household income is $42,453 and about 24% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher.

The school serves a diverse population in an area where nearly 30% of families face economic challenges, making its strong academic standing particularly noteworthy. Located on North French Street in this small city setting, the academy provides families with an alternative educational approach within the public school system, combining Montessori methodology with the accessibility of public education.

What Parents Should Know

First State Montessori Academy is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.5Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change+0.11 pts/yr
Data Period2014–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency42%
Reading/ELA Proficiency63.5%
Math vs. State Avg-12.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+8.4 pts
Overall Proficiency53%
Expected (poverty-adj.)35%
vs. Expected+17.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment3.6Fair20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,615
Chronic Absenteeism2.3%

First State Montessori Academy — Students at First State Montessori Academy score 53% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores DE DESSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 44.4%
School
State
38.1%
ELA Proficiency 63.3%
School
State
47.1%

Based on 123 test records from DE state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2014
Math
42%
ELA
57%
2015
Math
41.6%
ELA
56%
2016
Math
39.9%
ELA
56.4%
2017
Math
46.3%
ELA
67.1%
2018
Math
51%
ELA
67.4%
2019
Math
49.7%
ELA
64.5%
2020*
Math
47%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
47.6%
ELA
62.1%
2022
Math
42.8%
ELA
65.3%
2023
Math
42.9%
ELA
64.9%
2024
Math
39.4%
ELA
63.7%
2025
Math
41.1%
ELA
63.2%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.5/10.

How First State Montessori Academy Compares

See how First State Montessori Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.1/10
85th percentile in DE
Academic
8.9/10
8.9/10
Growth
9.5/10
Above average
Environment
3.6/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
36 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year
2.3%

Location

1000 North French Street NULL, Wilmington, DE 19801

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering First State Montessori Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. URSULINE ACADEMY, LOWER (rated 7.5/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is URBAN PROMISE SCHOOL (rated 6.8/10, 0.9 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Lewis (William C.) Dual Language Elementary School (rated 6.4/10, 0.7 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Wilmington, see our Wilmington schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.0 mi
School Distance Rating
HIGH ROAD SCHOOL OF DELAWARE Wilmington 0.2 mi 5.9
Kuumba Academy Charter School Wilmington 0.2 mi 6.1
Great Oaks Charter School Wilmington 0.2 mi 4.3
URBAN PROMISE ACADEMY Wilmington 0.2 mi
DARUL AMAANAH ACADEMY Wilmington 0.3 mi 3.8
The Bancroft School Wilmington 0.3 mi 4.9
Howard High School of Technology Wilmington 0.2 mi 4.8
Stubbs Early Education Center Wilmington 0.3 mi 2.7
Freire Charter School Wilmington 0.4 mi 3.5
SERVIAM GIRLS ACADEMY Wilmington 0.3 mi 6.6
Shortlidge (Evan G.) Academy Wilmington 0.5 mi 2.9
First State School Wilmington 0.5 mi
ST PETER CATHEDRAL SCHOOL Wilmington 0.4 mi 6.3
SHARON TEMPLE ADVENTIST SCHOOL Wilmington 0.7 mi
Lewis (William C.) Dual Language Elementary School Wilmington 0.7 mi 6.4
Edison (Thomas A.) Charter School Wilmington 0.7 mi 4.9
Warner Elementary School Wilmington 1.0 mi 6.0
URSULINE ACADEMY, LOWER Wilmington 0.9 mi 7.5
URBAN PROMISE SCHOOL Wilmington 0.9 mi 6.8
PADUA ACADEMY Wilmington 1.0 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19801 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$44,505

Median Home Value

$196,000

Median Rent

$1,126/mo

Population

16,170

College Educated

26%

Homeownership

29.2%

Avg Commute

23.8 min

Poverty Rate

28.8%

Median Age

35

Community Profile

The community surrounding First State Montessori Academy has a median household income of $44,505. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $196,000, with a median rent of $1,126/month. The area has a poverty rate of 28.8%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Lord Baltimore Elementary School Ocean View, DE 8.1
Milton Elementary School Milton, DE 8.1
North Smyrna Elementary School Smyrna, DE 8.1
Allen Frear Elementary School Camden, DE 8.2
Carrcroft Elementary School Wilmington, DE 8.0
Forest Oak Elementary School Newark, DE 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about First State Montessori Academy

What grades does First State Montessori Academy serve?

First State Montessori Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend First State Montessori Academy?

First State Montessori Academy has an enrollment of approximately 643 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at First State Montessori Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at First State Montessori Academy is 17.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does First State Montessori Academy rank in DE?

First State Montessori Academy is ranked #34 out of 219 schools in DE.

What is First State Montessori Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

First State Montessori Academy has a composite rating of 8.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at First State Montessori Academy?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, First State Montessori Academy has 44.4% math proficiency and 63.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is First State Montessori Academy a charter school?

Yes, First State Montessori Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is First State Montessori Academy a Title I school?

No, First State Montessori Academy is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
643
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
36
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
New Castle County
Chronic Absenteeism
2.3%
Data Year
2023–2024

District

First State Montessori Academy
District Enrollment
643
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,615
District Rank
#1 of 1

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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