Bear Creek Township’s public schools score below 87% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation
12% of students in Bear Creek Township’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Bear Creek Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Pennsylvania, not nationally.
From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 91% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Bear Creek Township’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 1792 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bear Creek Township’s, its schools beat 0%, lower than their 13% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 28% of tested students were proficient in reading and 12% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 91% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
77% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $12,925 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Five elementary schools, then two middle and two high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 56% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Bear Creek Community CS is in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Bear Creek Township’s grade
D: better than 13% of Pennsylvania school districts, #1,006 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Both inputs trail the Pennsylvania average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bear Creek Township, with each school’s own grade.
6th grade in Bear Creek Township · depends on your address
G A R MS
Grades 6–8 · 1,101 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Wilkes-Barre
Solomon/Plains MS
Grades 6–8 · 758 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Plains
7th grade in Bear Creek Township · depends on your address
G A R MS
Grades 6–8 · 1,101 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Wilkes-Barre
Solomon/Plains MS
Grades 6–8 · 758 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Plains
8th grade in Bear Creek Township · depends on your address
G A R MS
Grades 6–8 · 1,101 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Wilkes-Barre
Solomon/Plains MS
Grades 6–8 · 758 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Plains
9th grade in Bear Creek Township · depends on your address
Wilkes-Barre Area HS
Grades 9–12 · 2,569 students · 23:1 students per teacher · in Plains
Wilkes-Barre Area SD STEM Academy
Grades 9–12 · 93 students · 29:1 students per teacher · in Plains
10th grade in Bear Creek Township · depends on your address
Wilkes-Barre Area HS
Grades 9–12 · 2,569 students · 23:1 students per teacher · in Plains
Wilkes-Barre Area SD STEM Academy
Grades 9–12 · 93 students · 29:1 students per teacher · in Plains
11th grade in Bear Creek Township · depends on your address
Wilkes-Barre Area HS
Grades 9–12 · 2,569 students · 23:1 students per teacher · in Plains
Wilkes-Barre Area SD STEM Academy
Grades 9–12 · 93 students · 29:1 students per teacher · in Plains
12th grade in Bear Creek Township · depends on your address
Wilkes-Barre Area HS
Grades 9–12 · 2,569 students · 23:1 students per teacher · in Plains
Wilkes-Barre Area SD STEM Academy
Grades 9–12 · 93 students · 29:1 students per teacher · in Plains
Bear Creek Township’s public schools are run by Wilkes-Barre Area School District, which also serves Bear Creek Village, Buck, Laflin and Laurel Run and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Bear Creek Township vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Pennsylvania towns that share Bear Creek Township’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Township | D | Wilkes-Barre Area |
| Kidder | C+ | Weatherly Area PK–12 · Jim Thorpe Area PK–12 |
| Penn Lake Park | — | Crestwood |
| Dennison | — | Crestwood |
| Buck | — | Wilkes-Barre Area |
| Thornhurst | A | North Pocono |
| Jenkins | C+ | Pittston Area |
| Fairview | A− | Crestwood |
| Hanover | C− | Hanover Area |
| Laurel Run | — | Wilkes-Barre Area |
| Plains | D | Wilkes-Barre Area |
3 of the 10 neighbors share Wilkes-Barre Area with Bear Creek Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Bear Creek Township
10 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Pennsylvania’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Bear Creek Township’s schools
Are Bear Creek Township’s schools good?
On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Bear Creek Township children attend score below 87% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #1,006 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Bear Creek Township in?
Wilkes-Barre Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 8,176 students in 9 schools (2024–25).
Where do Bear Creek Township kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Wilkes-Barre Area HS and Wilkes-Barre Area SD STEM Academy.
What is Bear Creek Township’s graduation rate?
77% of the class of 2023 in Wilkes-Barre Area School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.
How much does Bear Creek Township spend per student?
$12,925 in Wilkes-Barre Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Bear Creek Township families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bear Creek Township → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Pennsylvania. Stars are from neighbors.