Luzerne County Schools & Education
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
86.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
86.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,272
National avg $13,239
State avg $10,336
School Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 72/100
State Score Position
#62
of 67 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Luzerne County
Measured School Summary
Luzerne County performs at an average level with a school score of 55/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.5%.
Funding Context
Luzerne County spends $9,272 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 23% below the Pennsylvania average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Luzerne County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
64 public schools and 16 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
55/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #62 of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data.
Completion
86.5%
3.8 pts below the state average
Funding context
$9,272
$1,064 below the state average
School coverage
64
16 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Luzerne County has 64 public schools across 16 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Luzerne County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Large multi-district county
Luzerne County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#62
of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data. The county score is 17 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Hazleton Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
11,348 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
Wilkes-Barre Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
7,777 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
Wyoming Valley West SD
Elementary to high school visible
4,928 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Pittston Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
3,099 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Hazleton Area SD is the largest listed district slice, with 11 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Luzerne County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Luzerne County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Large-Scale Education Across the Wyoming Valley
Luzerne County features 64 public schools serving a total of 43,617 students. The system is managed by 16 school districts and includes 37 elementary, 11 middle, and 15 high schools. One charter school currently operates in the county, providing a small alternative to the traditional district model.
Hazleton Area and Wilkes-Barre Lead the Region
Hazleton Area School District is the largest in the county, serving 12,187 students across 11 schools. Wilkes-Barre Area School District also maintains a massive presence with 7,777 students. Hazleton Area High School is the largest individual school, enrolling 3,795 students in one of the state's biggest campuses.
Suburban Settings and Large-Scale Schools
Suburban locales dominate the landscape with 44 schools, supplemented by 14 rural and 6 city campuses. The average school size is a significant 692 students, making Luzerne schools some of the largest on average in the region. Giant facilities like Wilkes-Barre Area High (2,293 students) define the local student experience.
School Overview
Total Schools
64
in Luzerne County
Reported Enrollment
43,617
64 schools reporting
School Districts
16
districts
Charter Schools
1
2% of total
School Level Breakdown
16 School Districts in Luzerne County
Hazleton Area SD
GuideWilkes-Barre Area SD
GuideWyoming Valley West SD
GuidePittston Area SD
Crestwood SD
Berwick Area SD
Dallas SD
Greater Nanticoke Area SD
Hanover Area SD
Wyoming Area SD
64 Public Schools in Luzerne County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 14 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 64 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazleton Area HS | Profile | Hazleton Area SD | Hazle Township, 18202Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 3,795 |
| Wilkes-Barre Area HS | Profile | Wilkes-Barre Area SD | Plains, 18705Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,293 |
| Crestwood Secondary Campus | Profile | Crestwood SD | Mountain Top, 18707Rural: Fringe | 7–12 | High | 1,419 |
| Wyoming Valley West SHS | Profile | Wyoming Valley West SD | Plymouth, 18651Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,357 |
| State El Ctr | Profile | Wyoming Valley West SD | Larksville, 18704Suburb: Large | KG–5 | Primary | 1,353 |
| Wyoming Valley West MS | Profile | Wyoming Valley West SD | Kingston, 18704Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,191 |
| Heights Terrace El/MS | Profile | Hazleton Area SD | Hazleton, 18201Suburb: Small | KG–8 | Primary | 1,138 |
| G A R MS | Profile | Wilkes-Barre Area SD | Wilkes-Barre, 18702City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 1,026 |
| Pittston Area SHS | Profile | Pittston Area SD | Pittston, 18640Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,022 |
| Maple Manor El/MS | Profile | Hazleton Area SD | Hazle Township, 18202Suburb: Small | 3–8 | Middle | 999 |
| Pittston Area MS | Profile | Pittston Area SD | Pittston, 18640Suburb: Large | 5–8 | Middle | 964 |
| Wyoming Area Sec Ctr | Profile | Wyoming Area SD | Exeter, 18643Suburb: Large | 7–12 | High | 953 |
| Freeland El/MS | Profile | Hazleton Area SD | Freeland, 18224Suburb: Small | KG–8 | Primary | 951 |
| West Hazleton El/MS | Profile | Hazleton Area SD | West Hazleton, 18202Suburb: Small | KG–8 | Primary | 949 |
| Hanover Area JSHS | Record | Hanover Area SD | Hanover Township, 18706Suburb: Large | 7–12 | High | 930 |
| Dr David W Kistler El Sch | Record | Wilkes-Barre Area SD | Wilkes Barre, 18702City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 916 |
| Valley El/MS | Record | Hazleton Area SD | Sugarloaf, 18249Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Primary | 911 |
| Hazleton El/MS | Record | Hazleton Area SD | Hazleton, 18201Suburb: Small | 3–8 | Middle | 879 |
| Berwick Area MS | Record | Berwick Area SD | Berwick, 18603Suburb: Small | 5–8 | Middle | 844 |
| Heights/Murray El Sch | Record | Wilkes-Barre Area SD | Wilkes Barre, 18702City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 837 |
Hazleton Area HS
Hazleton Area SD
Hazle Township, 18202 / Suburb: Small
Wilkes-Barre Area HS
Wilkes-Barre Area SD
Plains, 18705 / Suburb: Large
Crestwood Secondary Campus
Crestwood SD
Mountain Top, 18707 / Rural: Fringe
Wyoming Valley West SHS
Wyoming Valley West SD
Plymouth, 18651 / Suburb: Large
State El Ctr
Wyoming Valley West SD
Larksville, 18704 / Suburb: Large
Wyoming Valley West MS
Wyoming Valley West SD
Kingston, 18704 / Suburb: Large
Heights Terrace El/MS
Hazleton Area SD
Hazleton, 18201 / Suburb: Small
G A R MS
Wilkes-Barre Area SD
Wilkes-Barre, 18702 / City: Small
Pittston Area SHS
Pittston Area SD
Pittston, 18640 / Suburb: Large
Maple Manor El/MS
Hazleton Area SD
Hazle Township, 18202 / Suburb: Small
Pittston Area MS
Pittston Area SD
Pittston, 18640 / Suburb: Large
Wyoming Area Sec Ctr
Wyoming Area SD
Exeter, 18643 / Suburb: Large
Freeland El/MS
Hazleton Area SD
Freeland, 18224 / Suburb: Small
West Hazleton El/MS
Hazleton Area SD
West Hazleton, 18202 / Suburb: Small
Dr David W Kistler El Sch
Wilkes-Barre Area SD
Wilkes Barre, 18702 / City: Small
Heights/Murray El Sch
Wilkes-Barre Area SD
Wilkes Barre, 18702 / City: Small
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,272
State avg $10,336
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Luzerne County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Pennsylvania counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Pennsylvania?
How should I read the school score in Luzerne County?
What is the graduation rate in Luzerne County?
How much does Luzerne County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania?
Luzerne County features 64 public schools serving a total of 43,617 students. The system is managed by 16 school districts and includes 37 elementary, 11 middle, and 15 high schools. One charter school currently operates in the county, providing a small alternative to the traditional district model.
What are the major school districts in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania?
Hazleton Area School District is the largest in the county, serving 12,187 students across 11 schools. Wilkes-Barre Area School District also maintains a massive presence with 7,777 students. Hazleton Area High School is the largest individual school, enrolling 3,795 students in one of the state's biggest campuses.
What is the school experience like in Luzerne County?
Suburban locales dominate the landscape with 44 schools, supplemented by 14 rural and 6 city campuses. The average school size is a significant 692 students, making Luzerne schools some of the largest on average in the region. Giant facilities like Wilkes-Barre Area High (2,293 students) define the local student experience.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.