St. Michael’s School and Nursery is the oldest early childhood program in Delaware and one of the oldest in the nation.  It is located in the Eastside community in the city of Wilmington, one of the poorest neighborhoods in the state.  St. Michael's has offered a healthy, nurturing learning environment for generations of children during their first five years of life.  

Originally part of St. Michael’s Episcopal Mission, the program was founded in 1890 to ensure the safety of children while their parents worked at the riverfront tanneries. In the early 1900’s, St. Michael’s also operated a hospital for babies, serving as the sole medical facility for families of color in the city. Throughout the 1920’s and 30’s, the institution extended its support to homeless and abandoned children while facilitating adoptions.  

Today’s center has emerged from a century-long history of involvement in the community and a commitment to families in the region that goes far beyond childcare. Our approach has continued to evolve, addressing critical gaps in childcare services for today’s families. St. Michael's works to foster a safe, caring, inclusive environment for children and families starting out on their educational journey and to practice the highest standards of best practice for our profession.

Our families reside primarily in or near the East Side of Wilmington, one of the poorest communities in the city. 

Research shows that investing in quality early education programs for birth to age 5 can: 
► Eliminate the achievement gap
► Improve health and education outcomes
► Reduce crime rates
► Yield a  return on investment of 13%

St. Michael’s offers developmentally appropriate curricula that practices a “whole child” approach. We strive to ensure that each child’s unique, individual physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs are met. We maintain a firm commitment to supporting working families, just as we did 135 years ago.