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North Cross ValleyPhoto: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY-SA 3.0
C
Schools in Luzerne · Wyoming Valley West School District

Luzerne’s public schools score below 75% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

13% of students in Luzerne’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Luzerne, 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.

#927of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 87% 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.

Reading proficiency
41%
▼ 14 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
13%
▼ 23 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
87%
▼ 0 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.0K
▼ 22% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.4
PA 13.4 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
4,600 students on the public path
In brief

Luzerne’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 435 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Luzerne’s, its schools beat 17%, lower than their 25% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 13% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 87% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,982 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Wyoming Valley West MS, then Wyoming Valley West SHS. Enrollment is up 13% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Luzerne’s grade

C− Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 25% of Pennsylvania school districts, #927 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Both inputs trail the Pennsylvania average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 25%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (435)Better than 17%
C−CA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,276 test results and a graduating class of 364 could put Luzerne anywhere from C− to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 87% of Luzerne’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,200 in math, 2,351 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Luzerne, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C
6–8Wyoming Valley West MSin KingstonC−
9–12Wyoming Valley West SHSin PlymouthC+

Luzerne’s public schools are run by Wyoming Valley West School District, which also serves Courtdale, Edwardsville, Forty Fort and Kingston 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.

Wyoming Valley West School DistrictGrades K–12 · 6 schools · 4,894 students, up 13% since 2020–21 · 15.4 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$16,982PA $21,758 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading41%
State average 55.1% · 2351 students tested
Math13%
State average 36.1% · 2200 students tested

Luzerne vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Pennsylvania towns that share Luzerne’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
LuzerneCWyoming Valley West
KingstonA−Dallas
Pringle—Wyoming Valley West
Courtdale—Wyoming Valley West

2 of the 3 neighbors share Wyoming Valley West with Luzerne, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Luzerne

5 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).

Also serving Luzernein other towns
State El Ctr
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Larksville
C−
1,376 students16:1Rate it →
Dana El Ctr
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Forty Fort
C
626 students17:1Rate it →
Third Avenue El Sch
Elementary · Grades K · Kingston
97 students10:1Rate it →
Wyoming Valley West MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Kingston
C−
1,139 students15:1Rate it →
Wyoming Valley West SHS
High · Grades 9–12 · Plymouth
C+
1,362 students15:1Rate it →

Questions about Luzerne’s schools

Are Luzerne’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Luzerne children attend score below 75% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #927 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 17%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Luzerne in?

Wyoming Valley West School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 4,894 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Luzerne kids go to high school?

Wyoming Valley West SHS in Plymouth, with 1,362 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Luzerne’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Wyoming Valley West School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Luzerne spend per student?

$16,982 in Wyoming Valley West School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Luzerne families are saying about school.

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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.