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Very Good

#43 of 219 schools in DE

Top 19% 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

7.9

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Delaware schools

#43 of 219

In Wilmington

#10 of 50

public schools

Academic growth

9.5 / 10

Excellent

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First State Montessori Academy

7.9/10

Elementary School in Wilmington · grades Kindergarten – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

High Road School of Delaware

5.9/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Kuumba Academy Charter School

6.2/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About First State Montessori Academy

First State Montessori Academy is a public elementary school in Wilmington, DE, part of First State Montessori Academy. First State Montessori Academy serves approximately 643 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-8th, and has a 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio. First State Montessori Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #43 of 219 schools in DE.

Structured state assessment records for First State Montessori Academy show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).

How it compares1.2 pts above DE schools
  • This school 7.9 · Very Good
  • DE avg 6.7

What Parents Should Know

First State Montessori Academy is a charter school: publicly funded, but run with more independence than a traditional district school. Many charters are built around a specific model or focus, so it's worth understanding this one's mission, how enrollment works, and how it differs from the district schools nearby.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.5Excellent50%
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% (2025 DESSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency63.5% (2025 DESSA)
Math vs. State Avg-12.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+8.4 pts
Overall Proficiency53% (2025 DESSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)35% (model expectation from 2025 DESSA)
vs. Expected+17.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment2.5Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,615
Chronic Absenteeism16.6%

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 →

Test Scores DE DESSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 44.4% (multi-year average, 2014-2025)
School
State
38.1% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)
ELA Proficiency 63.3% (multi-year average, 2014-2025)
School
State
47.1% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)

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
7.9/10
81th percentile in DE
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
9.5/10
Excellent
Environment
2.5/10
Needs Improvement

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
36 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
16.6%

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, ST PETER CATHEDRAL SCHOOL (rated 6.3/10, 0.4 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 6.2
Great Oaks Charter School Wilmington 0.2 mi 4.4
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 4.9
Stubbs Early Education Center Wilmington 0.3 mi 2.3
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 3.0
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 6.3
Edison (Thomas A.) Charter School Wilmington 0.7 mi 5.0
Warner Elementary School Wilmington 1.0 mi 5.8
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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Carrcroft Elementary School Wilmington, DE 8.0
Oberle (William) Elementary School Bear, DE 8.0
Forest Oak Elementary School Newark, DE 8.1
Keene (William B.) Elementary School Newark, DE 8.1
Marshall (Thurgood) Elementary School Newark, DE 7.7
Mount Pleasant Elementary School Wilmington, DE 7.7

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 ranks #43 of 219 schools in DE.

What is First State Montessori Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

First State Montessori Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at First State Montessori Academy?

Based on loaded state assessment records, First State Montessori Academy has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).

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 →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
94 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
60 Good Transit
Bike Score
51 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

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 (SY 2022-23)
16.6%

District

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

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