First State Montessori Academy

Wilmington, DE 19801

www.firststatemontessori.org

Charter School 629 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

First State Montessori Academy (FSMA) is a public charter school located in Wilmington, Delaware, that provides a unique educational model based on the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori. Serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade, the school emphasizes student-centered learning, independence, and the development of the whole child. By utilizing mixed-age classrooms and specialized Montessori materials, FSMA fosters an environment where children are encouraged to follow their interests, develop critical thinking skills, and progress at their own individual pace within a structured curriculum.

Beyond its academic focus, the school is deeply committed to building a strong, inclusive community that reflects the diversity of the Wilmington area. FSMA places a heavy emphasis on "Grace and Courtesy," social-emotional development, and collaborative problem-solving, aiming to prepare students not only for high school but to be engaged and empathetic citizens. As a public charter school, it offers this specialized Montessori education tuition-free, making the traditional private-school model accessible to a broad demographic of families.

629

Total Students

34.0

Full-Time Teachers

18.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for First State Montessori Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	430
Hispanic	12
Black	119
Asian	15
Two or More	50
American Indian	3

White
430 (68.4 %)
Black
119 (18.9 %)
Two or More
50 (7.9 %)
Asian
15 (2.4 %)
Hispanic
12 (1.9 %)
American Indian
3 (0.5 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	First State Montessori Academy
Phone:	(302)576-1500
Website:	http://www.firststatemontessori.org
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	629
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	34.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 79

Grade 1 77

Grade 2 80

Grade 3 73

Grade 4 79

Grade 5 78

Grade 6 65

Grade 7 56

Grade 8 42