Is it obligatory for a female student to pray Dhuhr at a mixed-gender school, or is it better for her to perform it at home after returning, knowing that the time of return is 2:30 and that a woman's prayer in her home is better?

If a woman's not praying at school leads to the prayer time expiring, then she must pray at school and not delay it. However, if there is ample time, the matter is flexible, but praying at home is better due to the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "A woman's prayer in her home is better than her prayer in her room, and her prayer in her private chamber is better than her prayer in her home."