Photo: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0Scranton’s public schools score below 78% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation
13% of students in Scranton’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Scranton, 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 86% 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.
Scranton’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 989 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Scranton’s, its schools beat 9%, lower than their 22% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 31% of tested students were proficient in reading and 13% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 86% 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 $18,109 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Ten elementary schools, then four middle and two high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence CS, Scranton Preparatory School (private), St. Clare/Saint Paul Elementary School (private), All Saints Academy (private), Discovery Montessori (private), Scranton Hebrew Day School (private), Beth Shalom Academy (private), Milton Eisner Yeshiva High School (private), Carriage Barn Academy (private), Montessori Kindergarten (private), The Lutheran Academy Scranton (private), Lutheran Academy - Scranton (private), Merakey Education and Autism Center (private) and Bnos Yisroel Girls High School (private) are 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 Scranton’s grade
C−: better than 22% of Pennsylvania school districts, #953 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Both inputs trail the Pennsylvania average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Scranton, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Scranton · depends on your address
Frances Willard #32
Grades PK–4 · 345 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Charles Sumner #18
Grades PK–4 · 250 students · 17:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Scranton · depends on your address
Northeast Intrmd Sch
Grades 5–8 · 894 students · 11:1 students per teacher
West Scranton Intrmd Sch
Grades 5–8 · 820 students · 12:1 students per teacher
South Scranton Intrmd Sch
Grades 5–8 · 798 students · 12:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Scranton · depends on your address
Northeast Intrmd Sch
Grades 5–8 · 894 students · 11:1 students per teacher
West Scranton Intrmd Sch
Grades 5–8 · 820 students · 12:1 students per teacher
South Scranton Intrmd Sch
Grades 5–8 · 798 students · 12:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Scranton · depends on your address
Scranton HS
Grades 7–12 · 1,815 students · 20:1 students per teacher
West Scranton HS
Grades 9–12 · 1,404 students · 13:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Scranton · depends on your address
Scranton HS
Grades 7–12 · 1,815 students · 20:1 students per teacher
West Scranton HS
Grades 9–12 · 1,404 students · 13:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Scranton · depends on your address
Scranton HS
Grades 7–12 · 1,815 students · 20:1 students per teacher
West Scranton HS
Grades 9–12 · 1,404 students · 13:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Scranton · depends on your address
Scranton HS
Grades 7–12 · 1,815 students · 20:1 students per teacher
West Scranton HS
Grades 9–12 · 1,404 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Scranton’s public schools are run by Scranton School District. 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
Scranton vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Pennsylvania towns that share Scranton’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Scranton | C− | Scranton |
| Taylor | B− | Riverside |
| Moosic | B− | Riverside |
| Dunmore | B− | Dunmore |
| Ransom | A | Abington Heights |
| Roaring Brook | A | North Pocono |
| South Abington | A | Abington Heights |
| Spring Brook | A | North Pocono |
Every school in Scranton
29 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).
Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County).
Questions about Scranton’s schools
Are Scranton’s schools good?
On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Scranton children attend score below 78% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #953 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 9%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Scranton in?
Scranton School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 9,165 students in 15 schools (2024–25).
Where do Scranton kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Scranton HS and West Scranton HS.
What is Scranton’s graduation rate?
87% of the class of 2023 in Scranton School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.
How much does Scranton spend per student?
$18,109 in Scranton School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Scranton?
Yes: Scranton Preparatory School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 683 students), St. Clare/Saint Paul Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 365 students), All Saints Academy (Catholic, grades PK–8, 256 students), Discovery Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–2, 105 students), Scranton Hebrew Day School (religious, grades K–8, 93 students), Beth Shalom Academy (religious, grades PK–11, 78 students), Milton Eisner Yeshiva High School (religious · all-boys, grades 9–12, 77 students), Carriage Barn Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 56 students), Montessori Kindergarten (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 28 students), The Lutheran Academy Scranton (religious, grades K–8, 21 students), Lutheran Academy - Scranton (religious, grades K–8, 20 students), Merakey Education and Autism Center (special education, grades 1–12, 20 students) and Bnos Yisroel Girls High School (religious · all-girls, grades 9–10, 8 students). Scranton also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Scranton families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Scranton → 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.