Best Public Schools in Plains, PA

The city of Plains, Pennsylvania is home to 4 schools that are part of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, which is ranked 457 out of 610 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The schools include 1 elementary school, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools, one of which is a STEM-focused academy.

The standout school in this data set is the Wilkes-Barre Area School District STEM Academy. This high school consistently ranks among the top 1-7 high schools in the state, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school has exceptional test scores, with 100% of 11th graders proficient or better in Algebra I, Biology, and Literature on the Keystone Exams, in stark contrast to the district and state averages. In comparison, the other schools in the district, Solomon/Plains Middle School and Solomon/Plains Elementary School, have much lower test scores and rankings, placing them in the bottom half of their respective school types in the state.

The data also reveals significant disparities in funding and resources across the schools. The STEM Academy spends significantly less per student ($1,355) compared to the other schools ($12,651 to $13,945), yet it outperforms them on key metrics like graduation rates and test scores. This raises questions about the district's allocation of resources and the factors contributing to the STEM Academy's success. Overall, the data highlights the stark contrast between the high-performing STEM Academy and the rest of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, underscoring the need to understand and address the challenges faced by the lower-performing schools in the area.