C−
Wilkes-Barre Area School District
Public school districtGrades K–12Regional · 8 towns
Serves Wilkes-Barre, Plains, Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek, Laflin, Bear Creek Village, Laurel Run and Buck.
Students
8,176
Schools
9
Spent per student
$12,925
PA $21,758
Students per teacher
20:1
Debt
$155.6M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Wilkes-Barre Area School District
- School Grade C−: better than 24% of Pennsylvania districts
- Math proficiency 18 pts below the state
- Spends 41% less per student than the PA average
- 20 students per teacher
- Enrollment up 55.7% since 2020
- Debt of $155.6M, about $19,034 per student
Test scores vs. PA
2020–21Math proficiency19%
State average 37.1%
Graduation rate (4-year)83%
State average 87.5%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$12,925 per student · 41% below PA
Spending
Classroom instruction 67%Support & administration 29%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 44%State 45%Federal 12%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
5,251’20
6,343’21
7,678’22
7,985’23
8,176’24
Up 55.7% since 2020.
Students
Hispanic 54%White 23%Black 15%Two or more races 7%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
Schools in the district
9 public schools.
Dr David W Kistler El Sch
C−961 students17:1
Heights/Murray El Sch
D838 students17:1
Solomon/Plains El Sch
C+718 students15:1
Daniel J Flood El Sch
C−616 students17:1
Dodson El Sch
D522 students20:1
G A R MS
C−1,101 students21:1
Solomon/Plains MS
D758 students21:1
Wilkes-Barre Area HS
2,569 students23:1
Wilkes-Barre Area SD STEM Academy
A+93 students29:1
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.