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 7 public elementary schools serving 5,431 students in Wilkes-Barre Area School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Pennsylvania.
Public Elementary Schools in Wilkes-Barre Area School District have an average math proficiency score of 11% (versus the Pennsylvania public elementary school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 26% (versus the 54% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 78% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Pennsylvania public elementary school average of 42% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (PA)
# Schools
10 Schools
2,145 Schools
# Students
8,086 Students
1,108,977 Students
# Teachers
426 Teachers
82,943 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
Student By Grade
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
0.61
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
52%
16%
% Black
15%
15%
% White
25%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
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 Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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
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