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 2 public middle schools serving 1,807 students in Wilkes-Barre Area School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Pennsylvania.
Public Middle Schools in Wilkes-Barre Area School District have an average math proficiency score of 6% (versus the Pennsylvania public middle school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 28% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 76% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Pennsylvania public middle school average of 46% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (PA)
# Schools
10 Schools
923 Schools
# Students
8,086 Students
591,579 Students
# Teachers
426 Teachers
44,337 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
0.65
# American Indian Students
17 Students
1,239 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
72 Students
25,214 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
4,179 Students
97,970 Students
% Hispanic Students
52%
17%
# Black Students
1,229 Students
118,593 Students
% Black Students
15%
20%
# White Students
1,982 Students
316,870 Students
% White Students
25%
54%
# Hawaiian Students
1 Student
586 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
606 Students
30,545 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
101
1,623
# Students in K Grade:
597
15,933
# Students in 1st Grade:
690
17,465
# Students in 2nd Grade:
676
18,204
# Students in 3rd Grade:
465
18,156
# Students in 4th Grade:
576
19,235
# Students in 5th Grade:
620
33,809
# Students in 6th Grade:
596
92,720
# Students in 7th Grade:
621
128,929
# Students in 8th Grade:
590
129,773
# Students in 9th Grade:
718
34,725
# Students in 10th Grade:
695
28,504
# Students in 11th Grade:
572
26,584
# Students in 12th Grade:
569
25,919
# 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 Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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
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