Charter School of Wilmington

The Charter School of Wilmington (CSW) is a college preparatory charter high school in Wilmington, Delaware.[2] It is Delaware's first independently operated public school whose curriculum emphasizes math and science.[3] It shares the former Wilmington High School building with Cab Calloway School of the Arts.[4]

Charter School of Wilmington
Address
Map
100 N. DuPont Road

,
Delaware
19807

United States
Coordinates39°45′12″N 75°35′18″W / 39.75328°N 75.58832°W / 39.75328; -75.58832
Information
TypeCharter school
MottoExcellence Community Leadership
Established1996 (28 years ago) (1996)
School districtRed Clay Consolidated School District[1]
CEEB code080164
PresidentReginald Johnson (2021–present)
Grades9–12
Number of students971 (2019–2020)
Campus typeHybrid
Color(s)Blue and white
  
AthleticsDelaware Interscholastic Athletic Association
Athletics conferenceDiamond State Athletic Conference
MascotThe Force Horse (Lightning Bolt)
NicknameThe Force
NewspaperThe Force File
YearbookJourney
Websitecharterschool.org

History edit

The Charter School of Wilmington was chartered by the Red Clay Consolidated School District to replace the Academy of Mathematics and Science magnet school and opened in 1996.[5] Today, the school is operated by a consortium of six companies: AstraZeneca, Verizon, Delmarva Power, DuPont, Hercules Incorporated, and Christiana Care Health System.[6] It is a member of the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools, a group of around 100 high schools, as well as affiliates such as colleges and universities, summer programs, foundations, and corporations.[7][8]

Academics edit

 
Students look over a UD MATH 243 problem after school.

In 2021,U.S. News & World Report ranked it #74 of nearly 18,000 high schools considered and Newsweek ranked it #94 of STEM schools nationwide.[2][9] In 2013, CSW was given a Recognition School award from the Delaware Department of Education for exceptional performance and in 2013 and 2019, the US Department of Education named them a National Blue Ribbon School.[10][11][12] In June 2014, CSW's Jefferson Awards Council was given the Outstanding Service for Jefferson Council Volunteer award.[13]

Students also have the option of taking classes such as visual arts, drama, and music at Cab Calloway School of the Arts, who they share a building with.[14] They also have the opportunity to dual enroll at the University of Delaware.[15] During their junior year, students must complete a research project for the science fair.[16] Sophomores take Introduction to Scientific Research to prepare for this annual event.[16] These research projects were assigned to Sophomores prior to the 2023-2024 school year.

Students edit

 
The Charter Charger, named Lightning and known colloquially as the Force Horse."

Demographics edit

In 2020 White students make large proportions of the student body and about 30% of the students were Asian American.[2] Fewer than 8% of the student bodies combined from this school and Cab Calloway School of the Arts reside in the City of Wilmington, and fewer than 3% are Wilmington residents who are black and/or Hispanic/Latino or multiracial.[17] Barrish and Eichmann wrote that an Asian American suburban student living in an "affluent" area "is a fairly typical Charter of Wilmington student."[17]

Extra-curriculars edit

Students have the option of joining concert band and marching band, of which are associated with Cab Calloway School of the Arts.[14]

The Force File edit

The school's newspaper, The Force File, is a digital-first newspaper owned and operated by CSW students.[18]

Media appearances edit

The Charter School of Wilmington's founder, Ronald Russo, has been featured on TruTV's The Principal's Office.

Notable alumni edit

Notable faculty and staff edit

  • Chris Eddy (Athletic Director, 2009—present), former MLB pitcher

References edit

  1. ^ Charter School of Wilmington. "Charter School of Wilmington: Quick Fact Sheet". Archived from the original on 2008-08-22. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
  2. ^ a b c "Charter School of Wilmington". U.S. News & World Report. 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  3. ^ "Class of 2021 profile" (PDF). The Charter School of Wilmington. 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  4. ^ "Cab Calloway School of the Arts". Delaware Today. 2012-12-16. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  5. ^ "The Charter School of Wilmington: A Proposal to Establish a Math/Science Charter School at Wilmington High School" (PDF). Red Clay Consolidated School District. 1995-10-30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  6. ^ "Board of Directors". The Charter School of Wilmington. n.d. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  7. ^ "About". The National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools. n.d. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  8. ^ "Institutional Members". The National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools. n.d. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  9. ^ "Best STEM Schools". Newsweek. 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  10. ^ "CSW 2019 National Blue Ribbon School Video Released". The Charter School of Wilmington. 2019. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  11. ^ "Delaware Names 2013 Reward and Recognition School Awards". Delaware.gov. 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  12. ^ "2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private" (PDF). US Department of Education. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-03-21. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  13. ^ "Delaware Department of Education: Charter School Annual Report" (PDF). Delaware Department of Education. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  14. ^ a b Nagengast, Larry (2017-09-22). "Cab Calloway School of the Arts celebrates 25th anniversary". Delaware Public Media. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  15. ^ Bothum, Peter (2021-04-16). "LAB LEARNING". University of Delaware. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  16. ^ a b "Students Making Science". National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. 2019. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  17. ^ a b Barrish, Cris; Eichmann, Mark (2020-01-18). "Could bringing back Wilmington High help fix school inequities?". WHYY. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  18. ^ "Force File". Charter School of Wilmington. n.d. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  19. ^ Tresolini, Kevin. "Gemmell set to swim for second U.S. Olympic berth". The News Journal. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  20. ^ Holveck, Brandon. "Harvard runner Kieran Tuntivate becomes second Delawarean to break four minutes in the mile". The News Journal. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  21. ^ "About Madinah". Madinah Wilson-Anton. n.d. Retrieved 2021-07-07.

External links edit