A college preparatory high school focused on math and science chartered by the Red Clay Consolidated School District (charterschool.org)
Since its inception as one of the nation’s first charter schools, CSW has aimed to produce 21st century leaders by engaging students with practical learning, high expectations, social responsibility, and a global perspective. CSW regularly ranks nationally in “top schools” lists, and offers a wide array of Advanced Placement and honors classes, as well as cross registration with its downstairs neighbor, Cab Calloway School of the Arts.
President Chuck Baldwin says while colleges say that incoming students are often ill prepared for workloads, CSW’s increased homework, tougher exams and stiffer requirements means alumni excel where others struggle.
Extracurriculars include robotics, mentoring students with learning challenges, and other collaborative initiatives with organizations, companies and schools in town and across the globe. Students pick CSW to focus on academics, Baldwin says, so discipline problems are nearly non-existent.
But getting in can be tough. There is an entrance exam and priority is given to in-district students. This year, there were 920 applicants for 235 slots.
Graduates attend top colleges and universities like American, Babson, Boston, Brown, Case Western, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Franklin & Marshall, George Washington, Georgetown, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Haverford College, New York University, Parsons, Pratt Institute of Art, Skidmore, Swarthmore, Tufts, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt, Harvard and Yale.
Did you know: A CSW alumnus placed ninth in the 2012 Olympics for swimming, and CSW ranked fifth in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math by U.S. News & World Report (2012).
MORE ABOUT CSW
School honors: First in state among public schools (based on Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System test) Nationally: fifth place in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math by U.S. News & World Report 2012, 10th in Charter Schools by U.S. News & World Report (2009), 36th overall by Newsweek (2011), 49th overall by U.S. News & World Report (2009). National Champion Academic Bowl (2009), U.S. National Physics Team members (2002-2011), 11 national team members. TEAMS Engineering first place regional (2011-2012) State: highest public school SAT scores (2000-2012), Science Olympiad State Winner (2000-2012), Academic Bowl State Champion (2002-2011), Math League Invitational first place (2000-2012), Envirothon state champion (2002-2012), Odyssey of the Mind state champion (2002-2012), Delaware Mock Trial state champion (2006-2011), World Quest state champions (2007-2012).
Teacher honors: Sciences Educator’s Award, Columbus Scholar, numerous Presidential Awardees for Excellence for Teaching of Mathematics & Science, Leader of the Year by Technology and Learning Magazine, published in International E-Learn Conference, Impact Award by Delaware Charter Schools Network, iEducate finalist.
Current student accomplishments: first place National Cyber Foundation Competition, one of top 400 physics students in the nation, 1 of 25 of The Roots 2012 Young Futurists, Gold Medal winner International Biology Olympiad.
