Top Rankings
Wilkes-Barre Area School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Pennsylvania for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 10 public schools serving 8,086 students in Wilkes-Barre Area School District. This district's average testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Pennsylvania.
Public Schools in Wilkes-Barre Area School District have an average math proficiency score of 12% (versus the Pennsylvania public school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 28% (versus the 55% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 75% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Pennsylvania public school average of 39% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (PA)
# Schools
10 Schools
2,928 Schools
# Students
8,086 Students
1,668,648 Students
# Teachers
426 Teachers
124,158 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
District Rank
Wilkes-Barre Area School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 675 school districts in Pennsylvania (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 81% has decreased from 84% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#586 out of 684 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
12%
36%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
28%
55%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
57%
Graduation Rate
81%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.65
0.59
# American Indian Students
17 Students
3,204 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
72 Students
78,034 Students
% Asian Students
1%
5%
# Hispanic Students
4,179 Students
249,018 Students
% Hispanic Students
52%
15%
# Black Students
1,229 Students
237,342 Students
% Black Students
15%
14%
# White Students
1,982 Students
1,011,502 Students
% White Students
25%
61%
# Hawaiian Students
1 Student
1,518 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
606 Students
88,750 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
101
8,485
# Students in K Grade:
597
114,122
# Students in 1st Grade:
690
120,768
# Students in 2nd Grade:
676
126,133
# Students in 3rd Grade:
465
120,907
# Students in 4th Grade:
576
125,578
# Students in 5th Grade:
620
126,001
# Students in 6th Grade:
596
126,714
# Students in 7th Grade:
621
128,950
# Students in 8th Grade:
590
129,786
# Students in 9th Grade:
718
141,323
# Students in 10th Grade:
695
138,358
# Students in 11th Grade:
572
131,939
# Students in 12th Grade:
569
129,584
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,431 in this school district is less than the state median of $23,696. The school district revenue/student has declined by 13% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,156 is less than the state median of $23,119. The school district spending/student has declined by 13% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$133 MM
$39,541 MM
Spending
$171 MM
$38,578 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,431
$23,696
Spending / Student
$21,156
$23,119
Best Wilkes-Barre Area School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Wilkes-barre Area Sd Stem Academy
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2021 Wolfpack Way
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705
(570) 826-7111
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705
(570) 826-7111
Grades: 9-12
| 84 students
Rank: #22.
Wilkes-barre Area High School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2021 Wolfpack Way
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705
(570) 826-7111
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705
(570) 826-7111
Grades: 9-12
| 2,470 students
Rank: #33.
Solomon/plains Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
41 Abbott St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705
(570) 826-7222
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705
(570) 826-7222
Grades: K-5
| 708 students
Rank: #44.
Daniel J Flood Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
565 N Washington St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705
(570) 826-7245
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705
(570) 826-7245
Grades: K-5
| 620 students
Rank: #55.
Dr David W Kistler Elementary School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
301 Old River Rd
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 826-7230
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 826-7230
Grades: K-5
| 970 students
Rank: #66.
Solomon/plains Middle School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
43 Abbott St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705
(570) 826-7224
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705
(570) 826-7224
Grades: 6-8
| 741 students
Rank: #77.
Heights/murray Elementary School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1 S Sherman St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 826-7256
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 826-7256
Grades: K-5
| 843 students
Rank: #88.
G A R Middle School
(Math: 6% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
250 South Grant Street
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 826-7165
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 826-7165
Grades: 6-8
| 1,066 students
Rank: #99.
Dodson Elementary School
(Math: 4% | Reading: 10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
13 Hillard St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 235-6894
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 235-6894
Grades: K-5
| 483 students
Rank: n/an/a
80 Jones St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 826-7111
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 826-7111
Grades: PK
| 101 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Wilkes-Barre Area School District?
Wilkes-Barre Area School District manages 10 public schools serving 8,086 students.
What is the rank of Wilkes-Barre Area School District?
Wilkes-Barre Area School District is ranked #587 out of 675 school districts in Pennsylvania (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Pennsylvania school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Wilkes-Barre Area School District?
52% of Wilkes-Barre Area School District students are Hispanic, 25% of students are White, 15% of students are Black, 7% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Wilkes-Barre Area School District?
Wilkes-Barre Area School District has a student/teacher ratio of 19:1, which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 14:1.
What is Wilkes-Barre Area School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $21,156 is less than the state median of $23,119. The school district spending/student has declined by 13% over four school years.
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