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 2026 school year, there are 7 public elementary schools serving 5,514 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 16% (versus the Pennsylvania public elementary school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 26% (versus the 54% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 80% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Pennsylvania public elementary school average of 43% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (PA)
# Schools
9 Schools
2,141 Schools
# Students
8,176 Students
1,107,128 Students
# Teachers
417 Teachers
83,501 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
20:1
20:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Wilkes-Barre Area School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 677 school districts in Pennsylvania (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 78% has decreased from 85% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#575 out of 685 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
16%
38%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
28%
55%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
57%
Graduation Rate
78%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.63
0.62
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
54%
16%
% Black
15%
15%
% White
23%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,250 in this school district is less than the state median of $23,724. The school district revenue/student has declined by 10% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $20,924 is less than the state median of $23,146. The school district spending/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$133 MM
$39,541 MM
Spending
$171 MM
$38,578 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,250
$23,724
Spending / Student
$20,924
$23,146
Best Wilkes-Barre Area School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Solomon/plains Elementary School
(Math: 31% | 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
Gr: K-5 | 718 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #22.
Daniel J Flood Elementary School
(Math: 24% | 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
Gr: K-5 | 616 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #33.
Dr David W Kistler Elementary School
(Math: 17% | 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
Gr: K-5 | 961 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #44.
Solomon/plains Middle School
(Math: 11% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 758 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #55.
Heights/murray Elementary School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1 S Sherman St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 826-7256
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
(570) 826-7256
Gr: K-5 | 838 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #66.
Dodson Elementary School
(Math: 20% | 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
Gr: K-5 | 522 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #77.
G A R Middle School
(Math: 10% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 1,101 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
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