West Scranton High School

Summary:

West Scranton High School is a public high school serving 1,401 students in grades 9-12 in the Scranton School District in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Pennsylvania high schools over the past decade, with a 1-star rating and below-average performance on state assessments compared to the state average.

While the school maintains a graduation rate around 87%, which is on par with other high schools in the district, it faces significant challenges in academic performance, particularly in math and science. Only 25.1% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in Algebra I, compared to the state average of 41.6%, and 30.8% were proficient or better in Biology, compared to the state average of 50.5%. However, the school's performance in Literature is relatively stronger, with 58.3% of 11th-grade students being proficient or better, compared to the state average of 63.2%. Compared to the nearby Abington Heights High School, which serves a much more affluent student population, West Scranton High School faces unique challenges in supporting its predominantly low-income and minority student body.

Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending of $14,661 and a lower student-teacher ratio of 13.5, West Scranton High School's academic performance has been inconsistent, suggesting that more targeted interventions and collaborative efforts with higher-performing schools may be necessary to drive sustainable progress. The school's strengths in literature and its investment in resources indicate potential areas for improvement, but the overall challenges faced by this high-need school underscore the importance of continued support and innovative strategies to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1201 Luzerne St
       Scranton, PA  18504-2539


(570) 348-3616

District: Scranton School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
506th of 686 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,661 Help


Feeder schools for West Scranton High School:

Elementary:    Charles Sumner #18
    Frances Willard #32
    Isaac Tripp Elementary School
    John Adams #4
    More...
Middle:    Northeast Intrmd School
    South Scranton Intrmd School
    West Scranton Intrmd School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.5 Help
Number of students:  1,401

Racial breakdown:

White:
40.0%
Hispanic:
39.3%
African American:
12.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  89.3% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details West Scranton High School ranks worse than 73.8% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 31.12. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at West Scranton High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at West Scranton High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (40%), Hispanic (39.3%), African American (12.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 89.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at West Scranton High School is 13.5. (See more...)
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Compare West Scranton High School employs 103 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at West Scranton High School is $14,661.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

West Scranton High School:

SchoolDigger ranks West Scranton High School 506th of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See West Scranton High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Scranton School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Scranton School District 475th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for West Scranton High School

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Rank History for all students at West Scranton High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 58.03 280th 583 52.0%
2004 45.95 373rd 590 36.8%
2005 68.83 188th 593 68.3%
2006 56.39 321st 604 46.9%
2007 67.42 215th 615 65.0%
2008 47.56 400th 621 35.6%
2009 50.65 381st 632 39.7%
2010 52.86 367th 649 43.5%
2011 42.84 473rd 660 28.3%
2012 58.62 337th 664 49.2%
2013 24.69 499th 591 15.6%
2014 24.82 489th 580 15.7%
2015 18.07 566th 680 16.8%
2016 27.54 537th 677 20.7%
2017 22.41 539th 663 18.7%
2018 55.53 396th 673 41.2%
2019 33.97 511th 693 26.3%
2021 67.74 202nd 537 62.4%
2022 16.48 544th 634 14.2%
2023 23.70 540th 674 19.9%
2024 31.12 506th 686 26.2%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at West Scranton High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 9.78 123rd 129 4.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at West Scranton High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 30.16 66th 85 22.4%
2024 29.83 64th 84 23.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at West Scranton High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 19.28 550th 652 15.6%
2024 40.34 417th 664 37.2%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at West Scranton High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 29.66 498th 665 25.1%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at West Scranton High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 24.07 397th 502 20.9%
2024 35.28 305th 513 40.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at West Scranton High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 31.69 478th 662 27.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at West Scranton High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 38.65 148th 260 43.1%
2024 64.31 86th 284 69.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at West Scranton High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 21.79 209th 252 17.1%
2024 35.80 170th 274 38.0%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at West Scranton High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 29.46 447th 577 22.5%
2024 25.31 478th 595 19.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

West Scranton High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

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Enrollment information for West Scranton High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 950 3 2 1 0 n/a n/a -9 947
1989 924 3 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 930
1990 863 3 3 1 0 n/a n/a 0 870
1991 863 0 1 0 2 n/a n/a 0 866
1992 1189 9 6 4 0 n/a n/a 0 1208
1993 1265 27 9 7 0 n/a n/a 0 1308
1994 1254 23 11 10 4 n/a n/a 0 1302
1995 1292 19 15 14 0 n/a n/a 0 1340
1996 1292 19 15 14 0 n/a n/a 0 1340
1997 1268 17 11 28 0 n/a n/a 0 1324
1998 1151 18 16 36 2 n/a n/a 0 1223
1999 1072 26 15 19 1 n/a n/a 0 1133
2000 1047 20 16 19 0 n/a n/a 0 1102
2001 1055 27 16 23 0 n/a n/a 0 1121
2002 925 15 3 26 2 n/a n/a 0 971
2003 925 15 3 26 2 n/a n/a 0 971
2004 855 19 4 27 1 n/a n/a 0 906
2005 897 20 4 41 0 n/a n/a 0 962
2006 912 20 5 59 0 n/a n/a 0 996
2007 947 30 6 75 0 n/a n/a 0 1058
2008 979 40 6 82 0 n/a n/a 0 1107
2009 971 58 7 94 0 n/a n/a 9 1139
2010 943 65 9 85 0 n/a n/a 19 1121
2011 868 89 0 111 0 7 5 0 1080
2012 771 105 2 120 1 7 9 0 1015
2013 710 88 8 117 1 3 14 0 941
2014 662 104 3 114 1 7 11 0 902
2015 642 99 6 139 1 11 17 0 915
2016 620 124 8 158 0 10 17 0 937
2017 585 123 10 173 0 8 17 0 916
2018 551 115 13 174 0 6 18 0 877
2019 574 131 15 256 0 4 24 0 1004
2020 574 147 23 337 2 6 33 0 1122
2021 592 154 23 388 4 5 52 0 1218
2022 588 158 31 492 4 7 63 0 1343
2023 560 172 37 550 5 5 72 0 1401

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at West Scranton High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 947 74.4 12.7 n/a
1989 930 72.2 12.8 n/a
1990 870 70.0 12.4 0
1991 866 70.8 12.2 n/a
1992 1208 92.7 13.0 n/a
1993 1308 88.0 14.9 n/a
1994 1302 87.8 14.8 n/a
1995 1340 92.2 14.5 n/a
1996 1340 92.2 14.5 n/a
1997 1324 86.2 15.4 n/a
1998 1223 85.8 14.3 n/a
1999 1133 84.0 13.5 n/a
2000 1102 84.4 13.1 27.1
2001 1121 82.4 13.6 37
2002 971 76.3 12.7 27
2003 971 76.3 12.7 27
2004 906 74.3 12.2 30.9
2005 962 71.6 13.4 27.2
2006 996 73.0 13.6 38.1
2007 1058 73.4 14.4 n/a
2008 1107 77.7 14.2 39.4
2009 1139 75.4 15.1 44.3
2010 1121 80.8 13.8 44.6
2011 1080 79.1 13.6 50.3
2012 1015 77.3 13.1 60.7
2013 941 77.8 12.0 61.3
2014 902 75.5 11.9 64
2015 915 77.0 11.8 66.3
2016 937 75.0 12.4 72
2017 916 77.1 11.8 61.8
2018 877 77.2 11.3 58.6
2019 1004 81.1 12.3 92.4
2020 1122 91.6 12.2 90.4
2021 1218 97.1 12.5 88.8
2022 1343 97.6 13.7 90.6
2023 1401 103.0 13.5 89.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio West Scranton High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 947 74.4 12.7 n/a
1989 930 72.2 12.8 n/a
1990 870 70.0 12.4 0
1991 866 70.8 12.2 n/a
1992 1208 92.7 13.0 n/a
1993 1308 88.0 14.9 n/a
1994 1302 87.8 14.8 n/a
1995 1340 92.2 14.5 n/a
1996 1340 92.2 14.5 n/a
1997 1324 86.2 15.4 n/a
1998 1223 85.8 14.3 n/a
1999 1133 84.0 13.5 n/a
2000 1102 84.4 13.1 27.1
2001 1121 82.4 13.6 37
2002 971 76.3 12.7 27
2003 971 76.3 12.7 27
2004 906 74.3 12.2 30.9
2005 962 71.6 13.4 27.2
2006 996 73.0 13.6 38.1
2007 1058 73.4 14.4 n/a
2008 1107 77.7 14.2 39.4
2009 1139 75.4 15.1 44.3
2010 1121 80.8 13.8 44.6
2011 1080 79.1 13.6 50.3
2012 1015 77.3 13.1 60.7
2013 941 77.8 12.0 61.3
2014 902 75.5 11.9 64
2015 915 77.0 11.8 66.3
2016 937 75.0 12.4 72
2017 916 77.1 11.8 61.8
2018 877 77.2 11.3 58.6
2019 1004 81.1 12.3 92.4
2020 1122 91.6 12.2 90.4
2021 1218 97.1 12.5 88.8
2022 1343 97.6 13.7 90.6
2023 1401 103.0 13.5 89.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for West Scranton High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $387 (2.5%) $15,023 (97.5%) $15,410
2020 $593 (3.6%) $15,967 (96.4%) $16,560
2021 $510 (3.7%) $13,430 (96.3%) $13,940
2022 $545 (3.7%) $14,116 (96.3%) $14,661

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on West Scranton High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 511th of 693 High schoolsRanks 540th of 674 High schools
 6.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (West Scranton High School)495.9
 43.1%
   11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)63.334.1
 29.2%
11th Grade Biology (West Scranton High School)43.226.5
 16.7%
   11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)63.250.7
 12.5%
11th Grade Literature (West Scranton High School)63.356.3
 7%
   11th Grade Literature (Pennsylvania)71.565.3
 6.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students10041401
 39.5%
African American131172
 31.3%
American Indian05
Asian1537
 146.7%
Hispanic256550
 114.8%
Pacific Islander45
 25%
White574560
 2.4%
Two or More Races2472
 200%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients92.4%89.3%
 3.1%


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Frequently Asked Questions about West Scranton High School

West Scranton High School ranks 506th of 686 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,401 students attended West Scranton High School.

West Scranton High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Charles Sumner #18
Elementary : Frances Willard #32
Elementary : Isaac Tripp Elementary School
Elementary : John Adams #4
Elementary : John F. Kennedy #7
Elementary : John G Whittier #2
Elementary : McNichols Plaza
Elementary : Neil Armstrong #40
Elementary : Robert Morris #27
Elementary : William Prescott #38
Middle : Northeast Intrmd School
Middle : South Scranton Intrmd School
Middle : West Scranton Intrmd School

Students at West Scranton High School are 40% White, 39% Hispanic, 12% African American, 5% Two or more races, 3% Asian.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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