G A R Middle School

Summary:

G A R Middle School is a public middle school located in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 1,026 students. This school is part of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, which is ranked 460 out of 606 districts in Pennsylvania and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

G A R Middle School has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic students (55.65%) compared to the surrounding schools, which tend to have a more even racial distribution. The school consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Pennsylvania middle schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Its proficiency rates in PSSA Math, Science, and English Language Arts are significantly lower than the state and district averages. Additionally, the school has seen a decline in its four-year graduation rate, dropping from 82.3% in 2018-2019 to 69.8% in 2020-2021, and an increase in its dropout rate, reaching 3.9% in 2020-2021. With 100% of its students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, G A R Middle School has a very high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

When comparing G A R Middle School to other nearby middle schools, such as Pittston Area Middle School and Dallas Middle School, it becomes clear that G A R is underperforming academically. These nearby schools have significantly higher proficiency rates and overall SchoolDigger rankings. The combination of a high-poverty student population, low academic achievement, and declining graduation rates suggests that G A R Middle School may be facing significant challenges related to student engagement, teacher quality, and access to resources and support services.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 250 South Grant Street
       Wilkes Barre, PA  18702


(570) 826-7165

District: Wilkes-Barre Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
655th of 893 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,501 Help


Feeder schools for G A R Middle School:

Elementary:    Dodson Elementary School
    Heights/Murray Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  17.3 Help
Number of students:  1,026

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
55.7%
African American:
19.4%
White:
17.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


 See top rated Pennsylvania middle schools

 Compare G A R Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details G A R Middle School ranks worse than 73.3% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 24.24. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details G A R Middle School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2021 the calculated Average Standard Score was 35.32. (See more...)
Help
The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of G A R Middle School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at G A R Middle School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (55.7%), African American (19.4%), White (17.1%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at G A R Middle School is 17.3. (See more...)
Help
Compare G A R Middle School employs 59.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at G A R Middle School is $12,501.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

G A R Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks G A R Middle School 655th of 893 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See G A R Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Disabled students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Wilkes-Barre Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Wilkes-Barre Area School District 460th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for G A R Middle School?

Rank History for G A R Middle School

Help
Compare

Rank History for all middle school students at G A R Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 36.52 483rd 643 24.9%
2004 42.35 465th 663 29.9%
2005 36.65 512th 687 25.5%
2006 91.10 16th 736 97.8%
2007 47.42 482nd 749 35.6%
2008 24.96 621st 753 17.5%
2009 32.95 603rd 770 21.7%
2010 23.82 670th 805 16.8%
2011 20.83 701st 825 15.0%
2012 18.86 706th 834 15.3%
2013 13.46 646th 758 14.8%
2014 5.62 670th 728 8.0%
2015 9.54 736th 835 11.9%
2016 9.02 765th 870 12.1%
2017 9.79 762nd 877 13.1%
2018 14.03 722nd 861 16.1%
2019 12.38 753rd 891 15.5%
2021 11.34 703rd 797 11.8%
2022 13.65 740th 883 16.2%
2023 24.24 655th 893 26.7%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Multi-racial students at G A R Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 16.52 164th 187 12.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for middle school English Language Learner students at G A R Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 39.95 77th 143 46.2%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at G A R Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 33.46 598th 874 31.6%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Disabled students at G A R Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 22.25 556th 660 15.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at G A R Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 51.18 163rd 421 61.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at G A R Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 42.72 198th 362 45.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at G A R Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 11.61 638th 681 6.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for White Students!

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

Rank History for G A R Middle School

Help
Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 66.47 202nd 583 65.4%
2004 91.70 25th 590 95.8%
2005 85.81 41st 593 93.1%
2006 93.45 5th 604 99.2%
2007 54.47 357th 615 42.0%
2008 44.61 423rd 621 31.9%
2009 46.34 423rd 632 33.1%
2010 39.70 484th 649 25.4%
2011 36.97 507th 660 23.2%
2012 22.46 569th 664 14.3%
2013 3.45 550th 591 6.9%
2014 4.28 543rd 580 6.4%
2015 4.54 621st 680 8.7%
2016 6.77 605th 677 10.6%
2017 7.87 593rd 663 10.6%
2018 10.57 586th 673 12.9%
2019 5.02 632nd 693 8.8%
2021 35.32 406th 537 24.4%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Middle School Rankings!

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

G A R Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for G A R Middle School.

If you have first-hand knowledge about G A R Middle School, submit a rating!


Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for G A R Middle School

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 740 69 2 5 0 n/a n/a 0 816
1989 694 4 86 0 6 n/a n/a 0 790
1990 650 72 0 7 6 n/a n/a 0 735
1991 598 70 2 6 3 n/a n/a 0 679
1992 732 72 4 5 3 n/a n/a 0 816
1993 745 96 8 12 0 n/a n/a 0 861
1994 809 87 18 9 8 n/a n/a 0 931
1995 850 109 19 8 5 n/a n/a 0 991
1996 850 109 19 8 5 n/a n/a 0 991
1997 871 82 12 12 2 n/a n/a 0 979
1998 824 76 12 7 0 n/a n/a 0 919
1999 834 77 16 12 3 n/a n/a 0 942
2000 784 88 15 11 0 n/a n/a 0 898
2001 741 99 16 22 7 n/a n/a 0 885
2002 714 126 17 43 6 n/a n/a 0 906
2003 714 126 17 43 6 n/a n/a 0 906
2004 667 124 16 42 6 n/a n/a 0 855
2005 624 157 21 84 5 n/a n/a 0 891
2006 622 202 18 75 2 n/a n/a 0 919
2007 575 214 16 83 1 n/a n/a 0 889
2008 510 210 14 110 1 n/a n/a 1 846
2009 481 234 9 150 3 n/a n/a 3 880
2010 444 238 8 157 0 n/a n/a 8 855
2011 450 247 8 177 1 0 11 0 894
2012 428 256 14 218 0 0 17 0 933
2013 340 245 12 228 1 0 15 0 841
2014 326 251 9 269 0 3 11 0 869
2015 281 249 9 287 0 2 22 0 850
2016 277 223 11 316 0 1 21 0 849
2017 280 227 11 367 0 1 25 0 911
2018 250 240 7 404 1 1 34 0 937
2019 236 227 7 466 2 0 38 0 976
2020 205 196 5 477 3 0 48 0 934
2021 209 203 4 507 2 0 54 0 979
2022 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023 175 199 7 571 2 0 72 0 1026

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 G A R Middle School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 816 61.2 13.3 n/a
1989 790 59.7 13.2 n/a
1990 735 59.0 12.4 0
1991 679 57.7 11.7 n/a
1992 816 62.3 13.0 n/a
1993 861 56.0 15.4 n/a
1994 931 54.5 17.1 n/a
1995 991 63.0 15.7 n/a
1996 991 63.0 15.7 n/a
1997 979 62.0 15.8 n/a
1998 919 63.0 14.6 n/a
1999 942 67.0 14.1 n/a
2000 898 67.0 13.4 25.4
2001 885 64.0 13.8 23.5
2002 906 64.7 14.0 25.6
2003 906 64.7 14.0 25.6
2004 855 64.0 13.4 36.5
2005 891 63.8 14.0 26
2006 919 62.2 14.8 52.6
2007 889 60.9 14.6 55.9
2008 846 130.0 6.5 47.1
2009 880 68.1 12.9 60.8
2010 855 71.1 12.0 69.9
2011 894 68.5 13.0 73.3
2012 933 66.5 14.0 75
2013 841 66.9 12.5 78.8
2014 869 66.3 13.1 81.2
2015 850 67.0 12.6 99.6
2016 849 66.0 12.8 100
2017 911 60.1 15.1 86.5
2018 937 60.3 15.5 87.9
2019 976 59.5 16.3 89.7
2020 934 62.3 14.9 89.1
2021 979 57.3 17.0 89.5
2022 0 53.5 0.0 n/a
2023 1026 59.1 17.3 100

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 G A R Middle School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 816 61.2 13.3 n/a
1989 790 59.7 13.2 n/a
1990 735 59.0 12.4 0
1991 679 57.7 11.7 n/a
1992 816 62.3 13.0 n/a
1993 861 56.0 15.4 n/a
1994 931 54.5 17.1 n/a
1995 991 63.0 15.7 n/a
1996 991 63.0 15.7 n/a
1997 979 62.0 15.8 n/a
1998 919 63.0 14.6 n/a
1999 942 67.0 14.1 n/a
2000 898 67.0 13.4 25.4
2001 885 64.0 13.8 23.5
2002 906 64.7 14.0 25.6
2003 906 64.7 14.0 25.6
2004 855 64.0 13.4 36.5
2005 891 63.8 14.0 26
2006 919 62.2 14.8 52.6
2007 889 60.9 14.6 55.9
2008 846 130.0 6.5 47.1
2009 880 68.1 12.9 60.8
2010 855 71.1 12.0 69.9
2011 894 68.5 13.0 73.3
2012 933 66.5 14.0 75
2013 841 66.9 12.5 78.8
2014 869 66.3 13.1 81.2
2015 850 67.0 12.6 99.6
2016 849 66.0 12.8 100
2017 911 60.1 15.1 86.5
2018 937 60.3 15.5 87.9
2019 976 59.5 16.3 89.7
2020 934 62.3 14.9 89.1
2021 979 57.3 17.0 89.5
2022 0 53.5 0.0 n/a
2023 1026 59.1 17.3 100

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 G A R Middle School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $400 (2.8%) $13,656 (97.2%) $14,056
2020 $607 (4.0%) $14,741 (96.0%) $15,348
2021 $972 (7.3%) $12,350 (92.7%) $13,322
2022 $1,634 (13.1%) $10,867 (86.9%) $12,501

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

Impact of COVID-19 on G A R Middle 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 753rd of 891 Middle schoolsRanks 655th of 893 Middle schools
 11.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade Math (G A R Middle School)9.15.9
 3.2%
   7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)38.233.2
 5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (G A R Middle School)38.232.1
 6.1%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.554.5
 6%
8th Grade Math (G A R Middle School)2.113.4
 11.3%
   8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)32.226
 6.2%
8th Grade Science (G A R Middle School)2638.4
 12.4%
   8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)58.257
 1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (G A R Middle School)29.539.3
 9.8%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)57.952.8
 5.1%
All Grades Math (G A R Middle School)5.511.4
 5.9%
   All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)42.439.3
 3.1%
All Grades Science (G A R Middle School)2638.4
 12.4%
   All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)6865.6
 2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (G A R Middle School)33.737.7
 4%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.953.8
 7.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students9761026
 5.1%
African American227199
 12.3%
American Indian22
Asian77
Hispanic466571
 22.5%
Pacific Islander00
White236175
 25.8%
Two or More Races3872
 89.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients89.7%100%
 10.3%


Schools Near G A R Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about G A R Middle School

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,026 students attended G A R Middle School.

G A R Middle School ranks 655th of 893 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Students at G A R Middle School are 56% Hispanic, 19% African American, 17% White, 7% Two or more races.


Rate G A R Middle School!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for G A R Middle School!




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.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 51 milliseconds.