Public schools in Wilmington, CA
12 open public schools with an address in Wilmington, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
8,560
12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
19.5:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
1
1 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Wilmington public schools
The federal directory lists 12 public schools in Wilmington, CA: 8 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 8,560 students, an average of 713 per school. The largest campus is Phineas Banning Senior High (2,422 students), and the largest elementary school is Harry Bridges Span (1,171).
Los Angeles Unified operates the most schools here (11), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 19.5:1, lower than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school, 1 magnet school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 91% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Wilmington
Elementary schools in Wilmington
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broad Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 441 | 18.4:1 | |
| Fries Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 325 | 18:1 | |
| George De La Torre Jr. Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–08 | 598 | 18.6:1 | |
| Gulf Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 634 | 20.5:1 | |
| Harry Bridges Span Los Angeles Unified | KG–08 | 1,171 | 20.4:1 | |
| Hawaiian Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 455 | 20.7:1 | |
| Scholarship Prep - South Bay Scholarship Prep - South Bay District · Charter | KG–08 | 421 | 24.8:1 | |
| Wilmington Park Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 472 | 21.5:1 |
Middle schools in Wilmington
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Mid Sci Tech Engr Arts Math (STEAM) Magnet Los Angeles Unified · Magnet · Alternative School | 06–08 | 1,121 | 17.8:1 |
High schools in Wilmington
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan M. Issacs Avalon High Los Angeles Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 48 | 15.7:1 | |
| Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy Los Angeles Unified | 09–12 | 452 | 25.1:1 | |
| Phineas Banning Senior High Los Angeles Unified | 09–12 | 2,422 | 17.5:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White1.4%
- Hispanic91%
- Black3.4%
- Asian2.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.5%
- Multiracial1.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Wilmington schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (8,560 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Wilmington
How many public schools are in Wilmington, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 12 open public schools with a location address in Wilmington: 8 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high. Together they reported 8,560 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Wilmington?
Schools with an address in Wilmington belong to 2 education agencies, led by Los Angeles Unified (11 schools), Scholarship Prep - South Bay District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Wilmington?
Phineas Banning Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Wilmington, with 2,422 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Wilmington?
Yes. 1 of the 12 public schools in Wilmington are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Scholarship Prep - South Bay. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Wilmington schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Wilmington public schools is 19.5:1, lower than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Wilmington guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities