Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Summary:

Wilkes-Barre Area High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, with 2,293 students, making it the largest high school in the district. However, the school has a 1-star rating out of 5 from SchoolDigger and ranks 541 out of 686 Pennsylvania high schools for the 2023-2024 school year.

Wilkes-Barre Area High School consistently underperforms compared to the state average on Keystone Exams, with only 27.1% of 11th graders proficient or better in Algebra I, 23.4% in Biology, and 50.7% in Literature, compared to the state averages of 41.6%, 50.5%, and 63.2% respectively. The school's 4-year graduation rate of 87.5% in 2022-2023 is on par with nearby schools, but its dropout rate of 1.6% is higher than the state average. Additionally, the school has a very high percentage of students (86.52% in 2022-2023) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

Wilkes-Barre Area High School's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups. While the school ranks highly for English Language Learners (4 stars out of 5 in 2023-2024), it ranks much lower for other subgroups, such as White students (1 star out of 5) and Multi-racial students (0 stars out of 5). This stark disparity in subgroup performance is concerning, and addressing the underlying socioeconomic factors that may be contributing to these disparities could be a key focus for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District in order to improve educational outcomes for all students.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 2021 Wolfpack Way
       Plains, PA  18705-2062


(570) 826-7111

District: Wilkes-Barre Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
541st of 686 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,651 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  19.8 Help
Number of students:  2,293

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
45.7%
White:
31.6%
African American:
15.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  86.5% Help


 See top rated Pennsylvania high schools

 Compare Wilkes-Barre Area High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Wilkes-Barre Area High School ranks worse than 78.9% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 24.21. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Wilkes-Barre Area 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
Help
Compare Details Student population at Wilkes-Barre Area High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (45.7%), White (31.6%), African American (15.7%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 86.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Wilkes-Barre Area High School is 19.8. (See more...)
Help
Compare Wilkes-Barre Area High School employs 115.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Wilkes-Barre Area High School is $12,651.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Wilkes-Barre Area High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Wilkes-Barre Area High School 541st of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Wilkes-Barre Area High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


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


Wilkes-Barre Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Wilkes-Barre Area School District 457th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Wilkes-Barre Area High School?

Rank History for Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Help
Compare

Rank History for all students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 29.38 511th 674 24.2%
2024 24.21 541st 686 21.1%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 40.94 81st 129 37.2%
2024 9.97 143rd 150 4.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 51.96 28th 85 67.1%
2024 56.04 22nd 84 73.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 38.24 425th 652 34.8%
2024 29.16 505th 664 23.9%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 20.09 538th 665 19.1%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 28.72 357th 502 28.9%
2024 29.97 351st 513 31.6%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 27.62 505th 662 23.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 50.11 122nd 260 53.1%
2024 24.81 213th 284 25.0%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 35.40 163rd 252 35.3%
2024 41.80 155th 274 43.4%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 27.05 467th 577 19.1%
2024 20.67 500th 595 16.0%
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.

Wilkes-Barre Area High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Wilkes-Barre Area High School.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Wilkes-Barre Area High School, submit a rating!


Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2022 759 355 15 942 0 1 123 0 2195
2023 724 360 17 1047 1 2 142 0 2293

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 Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2022 2195 114.1 19.2 88.4
2023 2293 115.7 19.8 86.5

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 Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2022 2195 114.1 19.2 88.4
2023 2293 115.7 19.8 86.5

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 Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2022 $468 (3.7%) $12,184 (96.3%) $12,651

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education


Schools Near Wilkes-Barre Area High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Wilkes-Barre Area High School ranks in the bottom 21.1% of Pennsylvania high schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,293 students attended Wilkes-Barre Area High School.

Students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School are 46% Hispanic, 32% White, 16% African American, 6% Two or more races.


Rate Wilkes-Barre Area High School!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Wilkes-Barre Area High 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 70 milliseconds.