Best Schools in Scranton, Pennsylvania
32 schools · 19 Elementary · 5 Middle · 6 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Scranton?
Use this page to compare every school in Scranton by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
John G Whittier #2
Elementary · Scranton Sd. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Charles Sumner #18
Elementary · Scranton Sd. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Frances Willard #32
Elementary · Scranton Sd. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Scranton for 2026 are John G Whittier #2 (7.2/10), Charles Sumner #18 (6.5/10), and Frances Willard #32 (6.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 16 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
32
17 public · 15 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$151,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
32
17 public · 15 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$151,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 7.2/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.5 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Scranton schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +23.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Scranton schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Scranton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 16 rated schools; 32 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John G Whittier #2 | 7.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Charles Sumner #18 | 6.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Frances Willard #32 | 6.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Scranton HS | 6.0 / 10 |
| 5 | West Scranton HS | 5.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Isaac Tripp EL Sch | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | William Prescott #38 | 5.5 / 10 |
| 8 | West Scranton Intrmd Sch | 5.0 / 10 |
| 9 | John Adams #4 | 4.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Cs | 4.1 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.3/10
- Median household income
- $50,911
- Median home value
- $151,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 51%
17% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Scranton compares
Pennsylvania rank
#362 of 424
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.0
below Pennsylvania avg (6.3)
Median household income
$51k
64% of Pennsylvania median
Schools in this city
24
Scranton SD runs 88% of Scranton's public schools
Scranton touches 3 districts, but Scranton SD is the one most addresses actually attend.
Scranton SD accounts for 15 of 17 public schools (88%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 16 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.5 to 7.2 — the spread is inside Scranton, not a citywide average.
- Scranton SD15 public · 88%
- Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County1 public · 6%
- Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Cs1 public · 6%
About Schools in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania is home to 32 schools, including 17 public schools and 15 private schools. The city's schools span 19 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 6 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.3 out of 10, schools in Scranton show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Scranton is Scranton Hebrew Day School with a composite score of 7.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Scranton is served by 3 school districts: Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence CS, Scranton SD, Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County. These districts collectively serve 9,601 students.
Scranton's community shows 24% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $50,911. The poverty rate in the area is 21.5%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
19 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 452 students · Kindergarten–4th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 247 students · Pre-K–4th | 6.5 |
| 3 | 352 students · Pre-K–4th | 6.0 |
| 4 | 672 students · Kindergarten–4th | 5.5 |
| 5 | 232 students · Kindergarten–4th | 5.5 |
| 6 | 195 students · Kindergarten–4th | 4.3 |
| 7 | 320 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.1 |
| 8 | 427 students · Kindergarten–4th | 3.9 |
| 9 | 347 students · Kindergarten–4th | 3.8 |
| 10 | 209 students · Kindergarten–4th | 3.7 |
Show all 19 elementary schools in Scranton
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 840 students · 5th–8th | 5.0 | ||
| 2 | 781 students · 5th–8th | 2.7 | ||
| 3 | 923 students · 5th–8th | 2.5 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 68 students · 5th–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 68 students · 5th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,819 students · 7th–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 2 | 1,404 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 3 | 15 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 77 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Scranton Preparatory SchoolPrivate 683 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 8 students · 9th–10th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beth Shalom AcademyPrivate 59 students · Pre-K–11th | Not Rated |
| 2 | 20 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania · 32 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$50,911
Median Home Value
$151,800
Median Rent
$998/mo
Population
81,224
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
51%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
21.5%
Community Profile
Scranton has a median household income of $50,911. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $151,800, with a median rent of $998/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.5%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Elementary
- 19
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 6
- Other
- 2
Resources
Other Major Cities in Pennsylvania
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Scranton, Pennsylvania
How many schools are in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
Scranton has 32 schools, including 17 public and 15 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Scranton is 5.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked school in Scranton on MySchoolScout is John G Whittier #2 with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked elementary school in Scranton on MySchoolScout is John G Whittier #2 with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked middle school in Scranton on MySchoolScout is West Scranton Intrmd Sch with a composite score of 5.0/10.
What is the best high school in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked high school in Scranton on MySchoolScout is Scranton HS with a composite score of 6.0/10.
How many school districts serve Scranton, Pennsylvania?
Scranton is served by 3 school districts: Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Cs, Scranton Sd, Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County.
What is the education level in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Scranton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
The median household income in Scranton is approximately $50,911 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
Yes, Scranton has 15 private schools alongside 17 public schools. The top-rated private school is Scranton Hebrew Day School with a score of 7.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Scranton is 10.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Pennsylvania Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.