Best Private Schools in Delaware (Wilmington, Hockessin: best schools, college, gated)

[cjward93]

We have just moved to Delaware from Charlotte, NC, and are wondering what the best private schools are in the area (we are in temporary housing in Greenville).

Does anyone have first-hand information on the private schools? If so, your input would be greatly appreciated.

[little eggplant]

While I do not have children in school, I can refer you to this month's issue of Delaware Today magazine which has a cover story on private schools. Lots of listings, articles, websites to see. Hope it helps.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by cjward93

We have just moved to Delaware from Charlotte, NC, and are wondering what the best private schools are in the area (we are in temporary housing in Greenville).

Does anyone have first-hand information on the private schools? If so, your input would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry you've had to leave Charlotte - we will miss you!

In Wilmington you want to check out The Wilmington Friends School. This college prep environment will have your kids ready to face the world and succeed

http://www.wilmingtonfriends.org/Page.aspx?pid=183

[doctorjef]

Also Tower Hill and Tatnall -- very expensive, both of them. So is Friends, I believe. Do look at the current edition of Delaware Today magazine.

[queenofbavaria]

wilmington charter has a very good reputation, even if it's not a private school.
south delaware offers st. andrews, but it's a boarding school.

a friend of mine was teaching at independence school in Hockessin. heard lots of good things.

for younger one's we have st. anne's episcopal here in town (middletown).

[doctorjef]

I wouldn't describe St Andrew's as being in "south Delaware", since it is in Middletown, still in New Castle County even if "south of the canal". I'd generally think of "south DE" as Sussex County, also referred to in general terms as "downstate" or "lower, slower DE". St Andrew's BTW is where Dead Poets Society was filmed and was the school that Louden Wainright III attended that inspired his song "School Days" ("In Delaware when I was younger..."), one of the best representations of adolescent angst and narcissism that I can of -- I'd say it rises to the level of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (K. Cobain) in terms of capturing significant aspects of adolescent psychological experience. But I digress; as said, St Andrew's is a boarding school, so probably not what the OP is looking for.

It should be said that there are a number of good/high reputation Catholic schools in the area, though these may not be what the OP is looking for and are generally gender-segregated at the secondary school level. Salesianum is generally considered the top Catholic male prep school.

[toobusytoday]

How about Sanford? Sanford School - JK-12 College Preparatory School in Hockessin, DE

Here's a link for the article in Delaware Today Delaware Education - Delaware

Link to Dead Poet's society mention for St. Andrews http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Poets_Society

[queenofbavaria]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

I wouldn't describe St Andrew's as being in "south Delaware", since it is in Middletown, still in New Castle County even if "south of the canal". I'd generally think of "south DE" as Sussex County, also referred to in general terms as "downstate" or "lower, slower DE".

you are right, I agree. I probably said 'south' since everything else mentioned so far was hockessin and wilmington.
when i meet my german friends (who all live in newark, wilmington and hockessin) they always say: hi there, southern girl

[Joe84323]

Northern Delaware is VERY Catholic.

St. Elizabeth is kind of the entry level Catholic School. It is the most affordable, and smallest Catholic School.

For elementary, you have Ursuline and Padua Academies (girls)
You also have St. Edmonds, for boys.

Tower Hill and Tatnall are great schools if you are not catholic/don't want religion imposed on your children.

For High Schools, Archmere and Friends are the cream of the crop. The next best schools (for boys, at least) are Salesianum, Sanford, and St. Mark's (coed)

The closest you'll get with public schools will be Charter School of Wilmington. AI DuPont is good too, but not good enough to compare it to public school (I switched there from Salesianum. They were about 2 years behind.)

Good luck with your search! St. Marks seems to be the all around average private high school to send your kids. Also look up Caravel, Wilmington Christian, Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Anthony's.

If I had a choice of where to send my kids, it might be Tower Hill all the way up through High School... or maybe St. Anthony's, then Padua, for a girl, or St. Anthony's, to Salesianum for a boy. Or maybe Ursuline all the way up for a girl.

[rdlr]

Joe, the information you provide is so valuable. It's obvious you possess a wealth of knowledge regarding Delaware!