Below Average
#2250 of 2,846 schools in PA
Dr David W Kistler EL Sch
Elementary School · Wilkes-barre Area Sd · Wilkes-barre, PA
A Wilkes-barre Area Sd elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 5th.
301 Old River Rd, Wilkes-barre, PA 18702
- Math 30% vs PA 46% (2024)
- Reading 38% vs PA 53% (2024)
- 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Dr David W Kistler EL Sch score 34% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
2024 PSSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 14 points since 2020, reaching 34% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Dr David W Kistler EL Sch sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 65Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 56Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,000/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Wilkes-barre), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$54,892
Median home value
$115,700
Median rent
$971/mo
College educated
23%
Homeownership
57.1%
Poverty rate
18.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 18702; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Park EL SchEnrollment path unverified | 4.7 | 3–4 | 0.8 mi | 298 | Compare → |
| Milford E Barnes JR SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.8private | K–12 | 0.9 mi | 59 | Compare → |
| Wilkes-barre Mennonite SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–11 | 1.0 mi | 22 | Compare → |
| Lyndwood EL SchEnrollment path unverified | 6.7 | PK–K | 1.1 mi | 235 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Wilkes-barre Area Sd
- Schools in district
- 10
- Rank in district
- #2 of 9
- District spending per student
- $12,995NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 26.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Dr David W Kistler EL Sch is listed in Wilkes-Barre Area SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Dr David W Kistler EL Sch
Dr David W Kistler EL Sch is a public elementary school in Wilkes-barre, PA, part of Wilkes-barre Area Sd, serving approximately 970 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10 and ranks #2,250 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Dr David W Kistler EL Sch
What grades does Dr David W Kistler EL Sch serve?
Dr David W Kistler EL Sch serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Dr David W Kistler EL Sch?
Dr David W Kistler EL Sch has an enrollment of approximately 970 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dr David W Kistler EL Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Dr David W Kistler EL Sch is 17.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Dr David W Kistler EL Sch rank in PA?
Dr David W Kistler EL Sch ranks #2,250 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Dr David W Kistler EL Sch's MySchoolScout rating?
Dr David W Kistler EL Sch has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Dr David W Kistler EL Sch?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Dr David W Kistler EL Sch has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Dr David W Kistler EL Sch a charter school?
No, Dr David W Kistler EL Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Dr David W Kistler EL Sch a Title I school?
No, Dr David W Kistler EL Sch is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dr David W Kistler EL Sch?
100.0% of students at Dr David W Kistler EL Sch qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 970
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 55
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Luzerne County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.9%
- Phone
- (570) 826-7230
- Area population (ZIP 18702)
- 42,120
- Area average commute
- 20.1 min
- Area median age
- 38.8
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 18702; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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