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Below Average

#176 of 219 schools in DE

The Bancroft School

School · Christina School District

700 North Lombard Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Enrollment

535

Student-Teacher

13.4:1

Score

4.9

Grades

1st – 9th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Delaware schools

#176 of 219

In Wilmington

#41 of 50

public schools

In district

#25 of 27

Christina School District

Academic growth

8.2 / 10

Excellent

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The Bancroft School

4.9/10

School in Wilmington · grades 1st – 9th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Darul Amaanah Academy

3.8/10

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

First State Montessori Academy

7.9/10

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

About The Bancroft School

The Bancroft School is a public school in Wilmington, DE, part of Christina School District. The Bancroft School serves approximately 535 students, and covers grades 1st-9th, and has a 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio. The Bancroft School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10 and ranks #176 of 219 schools in DE.

Structured state assessment records for The Bancroft School show 16% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 17% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.0 pts below district
  • This school 4.9 · Below Average
  • District avg 6.9
  • DE avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

Test scores at The Bancroft School sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.

43% of students at The Bancroft School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-1.04 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics1.4Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency3% (2025 DESSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency6.9% (2025 DESSA)
Math vs. State Avg-52.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-48.2 pts
Overall Proficiency5% (2025 DESSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2025 DESSA)
vs. Expected-27.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile1th
College Readiness3.4Needs Improvement30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.5Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$33,954
Chronic Absenteeism43.2%

The Bancroft School — Students at The Bancroft School score 5% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores DE DESSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 16.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
48.7% (multi-year state average, 2016-2025)
ELA Proficiency 16.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
49.4% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)

Based on 64 test records from DE state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2010
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2011
Math
32%
ELA
57%
2012
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2013
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2014
Math
7.5%
ELA
12%
2015
Math
12%
ELA
12.7%
2016
Math
12%
ELA
20%
2017
Math
14.9%
ELA
17.9%
2018
Math
20.6%
ELA
17.1%
2019
Math
19.4%
ELA
16.7%
2020*
Math
2.5%
ELA
7.5%
2021*
Math
2.5%
ELA
9.4%
2022
Math
2%
ELA
8.9%
2023
Math
10.7%
ELA
12.2%
2024
Math
9.3%
ELA
8.9%
2025
Math
3%
ELA
9.6%

* 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: 8.2/10.

How The Bancroft School Compares

See how The Bancroft School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.9/10
20th percentile in DE
Academic
1.4/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
8.2/10
Excellent
Environment
7.5/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
40 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
43.2%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

700 North Lombard Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering The Bancroft School may also want to explore other schools in the area. First State Montessori Academy (rated 7.9/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is URSULINE ACADEMY, LOWER (rated 7.5/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, URBAN PROMISE SCHOOL (rated 6.8/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Wilmington, see our Wilmington schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.3 mi
School Distance Rating
DARUL AMAANAH ACADEMY Wilmington 0.1 mi 3.8
First State Montessori Academy Wilmington 0.3 mi 7.9
Stubbs Early Education Center Wilmington 0.3 mi 2.3
Howard High School of Technology Wilmington 0.4 mi 4.9
HIGH ROAD SCHOOL OF DELAWARE Wilmington 0.4 mi 5.9
Kuumba Academy Charter School Wilmington 0.4 mi 6.2
Great Oaks Charter School Wilmington 0.4 mi 4.4
URBAN PROMISE ACADEMY Wilmington 0.5 mi
Freire Charter School Wilmington 0.6 mi 3.5
SERVIAM GIRLS ACADEMY Wilmington 0.6 mi 6.6
ST PETER CATHEDRAL SCHOOL Wilmington 0.5 mi 6.3
Shortlidge (Evan G.) Academy Wilmington 0.8 mi 3.0
First State School Wilmington 0.8 mi
Edison (Thomas A.) Charter School Wilmington 0.8 mi 5.0
SHARON TEMPLE ADVENTIST SCHOOL Wilmington 1.0 mi
URBAN PROMISE SCHOOL Wilmington 0.9 mi 6.8
Lewis (William C.) Dual Language Elementary School Wilmington 0.9 mi 6.3
Warner Elementary School Wilmington 1.3 mi 5.8
URSULINE ACADEMY, LOWER Wilmington 1.1 mi 7.5
PADUA ACADEMY Wilmington 1.3 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
Brennen School (The) Newark, DE 5.2
RED LION CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Bear, DE 5.4
Sussex Consortium Lewes, DE 6.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about The Bancroft School

What grades does The Bancroft School serve?

The Bancroft School serves students in grades 1st through 9th.

How many students attend The Bancroft School?

The Bancroft School has an enrollment of approximately 535 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at The Bancroft School?

The student-teacher ratio at The Bancroft School is 13.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does The Bancroft School rank in DE?

The Bancroft School ranks #176 of 219 schools in DE.

What is The Bancroft School's MySchoolScout rating?

The Bancroft School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 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 The Bancroft School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, The Bancroft School has 16% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 17% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is The Bancroft School a charter school?

No, The Bancroft School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is The Bancroft School a Title I school?

No, The Bancroft School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
87 Very Walkable
Transit Score
61 Good Transit
Bike Score
53 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
1st – 9th
Enrollment
535
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
40
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
New Castle County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
43.2%

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