The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in English language arts. The lowest is 35% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on First State Montessori Academy
First State Montessori Academy is Delaware's first Montessori charter school, serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade in New Castle County. It operates as a single-school district, and the charter model means families choose it rather than being assigned by geography. That choice-based structure shapes much of what follows.
The school draws a moderately sized enrollment across its nine grade levels, with relatively even distribution from kindergarten through middle school. The student body is predominantly white, with a Black population forming the next largest group and a smaller multiracial presence. The school also reports a handful of Asian and Hispanic students. Economic disadvantage data through free or reduced-price lunch was not available, and individualized education program and English learner rates were not reported, so a parent would need to ask the school directly about how it serves students with disabilities and multilingual learners.
On state assessments, the picture is mixed but leans positive in reading. English language arts proficiency sits well above the midpoint, with a majority of tested students reaching proficiency, and that level has held remarkably steady over several years. A parent looking for consistency in literacy outcomes would find it here. Mathematics is the softer area. Proficiency there is lower, and the trend over recent years drifted downward before recovering slightly this past year. Science proficiency is also on the weaker side. Social studies results, reported by grade, are stronger, with a majority of students proficient at each tested grade level. Taken together, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile among New Castle County's districts, which is a strong standing relative to its peers.
Chronic absenteeism runs below the county median, suggesting most students show up regularly, which matters in a Montessori setting where continuity and classroom community are central to the approach. Per-pupil spending sits in the lower range compared with neighboring districts. That may reflect the leaner cost structure common to charter schools, or differences in how resources are allocated. A parent concerned about funding levels may want to ask how the school prioritizes its spending.
Because the school ends at eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. That gap reflects the grade band, not a missing outcome. Families will need to plan for a high school transition, and the school's approach to preparing students for that step is worth asking about directly.
The district brief notes that First State Montessori Academy underwent a charter renewal review by the Delaware Department of Education's Charter School Accountability Committee during a recent cycle. The school subsequently received an overall rating of "meets standards" in its annual report and continues to operate. Charter renewal is a foundational event for any charter school, because it determines whether the school continues to exist. For families already enrolled or considering enrollment, the successful renewal and positive rating provide some reassurance about the school's stability, though charter schools are periodically re-reviewed and that process is ongoing by nature.
We looked for a locale brief or community and economic context for the surrounding area, but none was available, so we cannot speak to housing costs, neighborhood character, or commute patterns from the provided data. Similarly, program offerings beyond the Montessori curriculum were not reported, so we cannot describe extracurriculars, specialized electives, or before- and after-school care. Civil rights data, including discipline and course access details, was not provided.
What the evidence does show is a school with a clear pedagogical identity, steady reading results, a solid absenteeism profile, and a strong overall proficiency standing within its county. The mathematics and science results are the areas where a parent may want to look into this further with the school, asking how the Montessori approach translates to those subjects and what supports exist for students who need them. The Montessori model itself is a matter of family preference: multi-age classrooms, student-driven work cycles, and emphasis on independence suit some children well and others less so. A visit and a conversation with staff would help a family judge the fit.
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