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Schools in Plains Township · Wilkes-Barre Area School District

Plains Township’s public schools score below 87% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Plains Township’s districts is 12%, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Plains 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.

#1,006of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

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.

Reading proficiency
28%
▼ 27 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
12%
▼ 24 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
77%
▼ 10 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.9K
▼ 41% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
19.6
PA 13.4 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
4,138 students on the public path
In brief

Plains Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 2035 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Plains Township’s, its schools beat 1%, 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 ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. Enrollment is up 56% 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 Plains Township’s grade

C− Test scoresD Graduation

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.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 13%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (2035)Better than 1%
Towns in Luzerne County (36)Better than 0%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,760 test results and a graduating class of 656 could put Plains Township anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 91% of Plains Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,679 in math, 3,840 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–5Solomon/Plains El SchWilkes-Barre Area School DistrictC+
6–8Solomon/Plains MSWilkes-Barre Area School DistrictD
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressA+

Plains Township’s public schools are run by Wilkes-Barre Area School District, which also serves Bear Creek, Bear Creek Village, Buck and Laflin 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.

Wilkes-Barre Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 9 schools · 8,176 students, up 56% since 2020–21 · 19.6 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$12,925PA $21,758 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading28%
State average 55.1% · 3840 students tested
Math12%
State average 36.1% · 3679 students tested

Plains Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Plains TownshipDWilkes-Barre Area
Wilkes-BarreDWilkes-Barre Area
JenkinsC+Pittston Area
Forty FortCWyoming Valley West
KingstonCWyoming Valley West
Bear CreekDWilkes-Barre Area
WyomingB−Wyoming Area

2 of the 6 neighbors share Wilkes-Barre Area with Plains Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Plains Township

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).

District schools in Plains Townshipby address
Solomon/Plains El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Plains
C+
718 students15:1Rate it →
Solomon/Plains MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Plains
D
758 students21:1Rate it →
Wilkes-Barre Area HS
High · Grades 9–12 · Plains
2,569 students23:1Rate it →
Wilkes-Barre Area SD STEM Academy
High · Grades 9–12 · Plains
A+
93 students29:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Plains Townshiprun by other districts or the state
Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center
High · Grades 9–12 · Wilkes-Barre
Career and Technical
30 students1:1Rate it →

Questions about Plains Township’s schools

Are Plains Township’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Plains 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. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 1%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Plains Township in?

Wilkes-Barre Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 8,176 students in 9 schools (2024–25).

Where do Plains 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 Plains 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 Plains 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 Plains Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Plains 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.