Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Wilkes-Barre Area SD

Pennsylvania · Public School District
9
Schools
7,678
Students
$24,364
Per-Pupil Spend
+70% nat'l
96.0%
Free Lunch Rate
+44pp vs nat'l
81.0%
Graduation Rate
-5.5pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Wilkes-Barre Area SD is a public school district in Pennsylvania serving 7,678 students across 9 schools. It includes 5 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high schools. Its graduation rate of 81.0% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $24,364 is above average for a US public school district. 96% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 44/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (9)
Elementary Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Daniel J Flood El SchKG–05592
Dodson El SchKG–05486
Dr David W Kistler El SchKG–05916
Heights/Murray El SchKG–05837
Solomon/Plains El SchKG–05712
Middle Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
G A R MS06–081,026
Solomon/Plains MS06–08736
High Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Wilkes-Barre Area HS09–122,293
Wilkes-Barre Area SD STEM Academy09–1280
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$24,364+70% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
37%
46%
State
37.4%
Local (property tax)
45.8%
Federal
16.8%

Funding is shared between state (37%) and local sources (46%), with notable federal support (17%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
9
Schools
7,678
Students
96%
Free Lunch
$24K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate81.0%
Opportunity Score44/100
StatePennsylvania →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $24,364 per pupil — 70% above the national average of $14,347.
Below-average graduation rate
At 81.0%, graduation is 5.5 points below the national average of 86.5%.
High economic need in community
96% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Wilkes-Barre Area SD?
Wilkes-Barre Area SD has 9 public schools, serving a total of 7,678 students.
What is the graduation rate for Wilkes-Barre Area SD?
The graduation rate is 81.0%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Wilkes-Barre Area SD spend per student?
Wilkes-Barre Area SD spends $24,364 per pupil — 70% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Wilkes-Barre Area SD?
96% of students in Wilkes-Barre Area SD qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Wilkes-Barre Area SD?
No, Wilkes-Barre Area SD does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Wilkes-Barre Area SD serve?
Wilkes-Barre Area SD serves grades KG through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Wilkes-Barre Area SD?
The median opportunity score across schools in Wilkes-Barre Area SD is 44/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.