Brandywine School District (Wilmington, Claymont, Middletown: for sale, houses, tile)

[The Watusi]

Hello All! This is my first time posting on this forum. After carefully reading the Delaware forum, I have been researching schools particularly the Brandywine School District. I know DE usually gets a bad rap with their public schools, but from what I have been reading they are actually getting better with the exception of a few here and there. I know there are multiple threads regarding the schools in DE, but I am looking for a fresh perspective so bare with me.

As of now, my focus is on the Brandywine School District since my wife and I are exploring the North Wilmington area closest to PA border. (Brandywine Hundred). We do not have kids yet and private school is not an option at this point because they are insanely expensive.

As mentioned, I am looking for a fresh perspective from people on this forum. Whether you are a teacher in the district, parent, or even former student I would love to hear your experiences whether positive or negative. I have read the district's report card as well.

As I understand it, the main feeder pattern is Brandywood Elementary, Springer, and Concord HS. Are there any other feeders we should be aware?

Thanks for the insight.

[DelawareLiz]

I attended Brandywood Elementary back in the late 70's-early 80's, kindergarten through third grade. The school was excellent along with the staff. I was a student at Harlan Elementary during the early-mid 80's for fourth and part of fifth grade. The teachers were great, but the atmosphere was not so great...at least back then. There were more "problem students" compared to little ol' Brandywood, and this could be disruptive for those of us who were there to learn.

I moved to eastern Sussex in 1985; therefore, I cannot comment on the middle or high schools. Perhaps someone else can???

[James420]

Originally Posted by The Watusi

Hello All! This is my first time posting on this forum. After carefully reading the Delaware forum, I have been researching schools particularly the Brandywine School District. I know DE usually gets a bad rap with their public schools, but from what I have been reading they are actually getting better with the exception of a few here and there. I know there are multiple threads regarding the schools in DE, but I am looking for a fresh perspective so bare with me.

As of now, my focus is on the Brandywine School District since my wife and I are exploring the North Wilmington area closest to PA border. (Brandywine Hundred). We do not have kids yet and private school is not an option at this point because they are insanely expensive.

As mentioned, I am looking for a fresh perspective from people on this forum. Whether you are a teacher in the district, parent, or even former student I would love to hear your experiences whether positive or negative. I have read the district's report card as well.

As I understand it, the main feeder pattern is Brandywood Elementary, Springer, and Concord HS. Are there any other feeders we should be aware?

Thanks for the insight.

Thats the best feeder pattern in the Brandywine school district, our son just started 6th grade at Springer and its probably the best middle school out of the other two. Schools that have the Gifted or I.B programs like Claymont Elementary usually have really low test scores outside of the kids in those programs. Same goes for Talley Middle that has the I.B program and P.S middle that has the gifted program. P.S has improved this year though, only 16 have been arrested this year compared to 19 at the same time last year. P.S is the only middle school with a full time cop. Concord High shares their cop with Talley middle and Brandywine High school shares there's with Springer Middle.

The curriculum at all of these schools is great, they have discipline problems and one of the main reasons is Wilmington doesn't have a school district so kids from the city get bussed into the suburban schools, like Carrcroft Elementary, basically all the schools in the school district. Its been a failed social experiment for a long time, and its pretty much the only reason why all of my wifes friends who grew up here (North Wilmington, Claymont) have left to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

I love North Wilmington, I think its one of the best parts of the state to live. I love all the trees and the beautiful houses we have. I live right off of Marsh rd. Plus and I mentioned it before community swimming pools, there are more here than any other part of the state, like 6 in 19803 and 3 or 4 in 19810. You don't have to live in a certain area to be a part of any pool either.

The only thing I really don't like about North Wilmington is older people, not that I hate old people but most of the developments are full of 50-70 year olds so developments full of kids are hard to find, which is the opposite of this area 15 years ago. Most my age (38) with kids went to Middletown, DE or Bootwyn, PA for the schools 5-10 years ago.

Hope this helps.

[The Watusi]

Originally Posted by James420

The curriculum at all of these schools is great, they have discipline problems and one of the main reasons is Wilmington doesn't have a school district so kids from the city get bussed into the suburban schools, like Carrcroft Elementary, basically all the schools in the school district. Its been a failed social experiment for a long time, and its pretty much the only reason why all of my wifes friends who grew up here (North Wilmington, Claymont) have left to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Is there talk about Wilmington getting its own school disrict? I read about this and it is unfortunate that the state still can't recover from this failed policy.

Originally Posted by James420

The only thing I really don't like about North Wilmington is older people, not that I hate old people but most of the developments are full of 50-70 year olds so developments full of kids are hard to find, which is the opposite of this area 15 years ago. Most my age (38) with kids went to Middletown, DE or Bootwyn, PA for the schools 5-10 years ago.

Funny you mention this because after driving around in North Wilmington we found that most of the developments have that 1960's feel. It's like driving back in time almost. We looked at a few homes for sale and I swear the interiors have not been updated since 1979.

Either way thanks for the insight James...much appreciated!

[James420]

Originally Posted by The Watusi

Is there talk about Wilmington getting its own school disrict? I read about this and it is unfortunate that the state still can't recover from this failed policy.


Actually one of the main cogs in this mess is a minister in Wilmington who pushed for bussing in the late '70s, now wants Wilmington to get its own district back. Up until the '90s I believe, suburban kids were bussed to the city schools but thankfully that ended. My wife was a part of it and she has some nightmare stories to tell. Funny thing, Landenberg, PA was basically settled by former Delawareans in the '80s and '90s due to bussing.
I don't see Wilmington getting its own district back in the near future, basically because of the lack of funding and the lack of teachers who would want to work there.


Funny you mention this because after driving around in North Wilmington we found that most of the developments have that 1960's feel. It's like driving back in time almost. We looked at a few homes for sale and I swear the interiors have not been updated since 1979.

Either way thanks for the insight James...much appreciated!

They do have an old feel but unlike most of the state we have trees in our developments, Graylin Crest, Shellburne, Holiday Hills, Kingsridge, anywhere near Shipley road above Philly Pike is really nice. The only part of North Wilmington to look out for is 19809 next to Claymont, it has some bad areas. But most of 19810 and 19803 is really nice. While the houses are old and drafty not much insulation I love the craftmanship in some of these places you don't get in a house built today. Like beautiful wood work and stone around the fireplaces, real tile bathrooms with an inch of concrete behind the tile, real oak floors, crown molding everywhere. Its little things like those that separate N. Wilmington from the rest of the state.

[DelawareLiz]

Agree with James420's above post. Of course I'm biased, but I'd say north Wilmington is the best place to live in New Castle County.

My sister lives in Holiday Hills and loves it. She also says the area has a desirable "feeder pattern" for her children. Her home is a 1950's split-level which is very cute and charming. She had her kitchen and bathrooms remodeled/upgraded, but she left the rest of the house as is (other than repairs, sprucing up, etc.).

[nicedd]

I have children in both Talley and P.S. ,yes they are in the gifted and in the I.B. program I have had no problems with either of these schools.My daughter attended Lancashire and Claymont before Talley and again no problems.I believe lots of problems that start at school are do to lack of parent involvement.You need to be a part of your childs school community so you are always aware of what is going on.My daughter will be attending Mt.Pleasant H.S. in the fall it does not have a good reputation but it has the I.B.programme. Now when my son is ready for high school ,I do not where to send him, only because he is now in the gifted program and they do not have anything in the high schools for them.I do not think he will be challenged enough.I am already looking at The Charter School of Wilmington as an option. Good luck with your move

[Para education]

I will make this short and right to the point. If your child is very smart or in the gifted program you are in luck, for BSD have wonderful programs and awesome board certified teachers. Also, if your child has severe learning disabilities that are visible your in luck for the district goes above and beyond for students that need special services. However, the students who are average or have an average IQ but still have learning difficulties, often called hidden disabilities, sadly fall through the cracks. The district is very proud of their inclusion program with special needs mixed with regular ed. Personally I feel that inclusion should include all students. The gifted program is for the very high IQ students only. I don't call that inclusion at all. I asked Markell what he thought of that before he became governor and he replied ," Well those kind of students need their own special rooms for they may very well play a big part in our future." He sure didn't get my vote! AZ a mother of a gifted daughter and LD son I would not recommend BSD. I have seen to many children not get their needs met simply due to the fact that they are not labeled by Delaware code. Sad but true!!!