Average
#1377 of 2,842 schools in PA
Top 48% in state
Heights/murray EL Sch
Elementary School · Wilkes-Barre Area SD
1 S Sherman St, Wilkes-barre, PA 18702
Enrollment
843
Student-Teacher
18.7:1
Score
6.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
843
Student-Teacher
18.7:1
Score
6.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Wilkes-barre
#2 of 4
public schools
Pennsylvania elementary schools
#888 of 1,625
In district
#3 of 9
Wilkes-Barre Area SD
Academic growth
9.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Heights/murray EL Sch
Heights/Murray Elementary School serves grades kindergarten through fifth in Wilkes Barre, a small city in Luzerne County. The school enrolls 843 students with 45 full-time equivalent teachers, creating a student-teacher ratio of about 19 to 1. Academically, Heights/Murray is working to improve student performance.
In English language arts, 28% of students score at proficient levels or above, while mathematics proficiency sits at 18% across grade levels. These results indicate the school has significant room for academic growth and is focusing on developing stronger foundational skills in core subjects. The school's academic score of 2.5 out of 10 and MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10 reflect these ongoing challenges, with the school ranking in the 30th percentile statewide.
As a regular public elementary school, Heights/Murray provides neighborhood access to early education for younger learners in Wilkes Barre. The school's small-city location offers families a traditional community school environment where staff work to support student development during these critical early learning years.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Heights/murray EL Sch are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
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Heights/murray EL Sch — Students at Heights/murray EL Sch score 25% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores PA PSSA (2023-24)
Based on 12 test records from PA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.8/10.
How Heights/murray EL Sch Compares
See how Heights/murray EL Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 8% (2019) to 22.4% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 25% (2019) to 28.1% (2024).
Location
1 S Sherman St, Wilkes-barre, PA 18702
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Heights/murray EL Sch may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ST NICHOLAS-ST MARY'S SCHOOL (rated 6.9/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Daniel J Flood El Sch (rated 6.8/10, 1.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, WILKES-BARRE ACADEMY (rated 6.2/10, 0.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Wilkes-barre, see our Wilkes-barre schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.3 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| G A R MS Wilkes-Barre | 0.5 mi | 4.5 |
| WILKES-BARRE ACADEMY Wilkes-Barre | 0.5 mi | 6.2 |
| HOLY REDEEMER H.S. Wilkes-Barre | 0.5 mi | 7.4 |
| Dodson El Sch Wilkes-Barre | 0.7 mi | 5.4 |
| ST NICHOLAS-ST MARY'S SCHOOL Wilkes-Barre | 0.7 mi | 6.9 |
| BAIS MENACHEM YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROG Wilkes-Barre | 0.7 mi | 6.2 |
| Daniel J Flood El Sch Wilkes-Barre | 1.1 mi | 6.8 |
| MILFORD E BARNES JR SCHOOL Wilkes-Barre | 1.0 mi | 6.8 |
| Wolfpack Early Learning Academy Wilkes-Barre | 1.1 mi | — |
| GRAHAM ACADEMY Kingston | 1.4 mi | 7.5 |
| Third Avenue El Sch Kingston | 1.4 mi | 5.5 |
| WILKES-BARRE MENNONITE SCHOOL Wilkes-Barre | 1.4 mi | — |
| Wyoming Valley West MS Kingston | 1.8 mi | 3.6 |
| Chester Street El Sch Kingston | 1.8 mi | 3.0 |
| JENNY LYNN FERRARO ACADEMY Kingston | 2.1 mi | — |
| Wilkes-Barre Area SD STEM Academy Plains | 2.1 mi | 8.0 |
| Wilkes-Barre Area HS Plains | 2.1 mi | 3.7 |
| JENNY LYNN ELEMENTARY Kingston | 2.1 mi | 6.0 |
| WYOMING SEMINARY UPPER SCHOOL Kingston | 2.1 mi | 7.2 |
| GENESIS SCHOOL Kingston | 2.3 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 18702 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$54,892
Median Home Value
$115,700
Median Rent
$971/mo
Population
42,120
College Educated
23%
Homeownership
57.1%
Avg Commute
20.1 min
Poverty Rate
18.3%
Median Age
38.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Heights/murray EL Sch has a median household income of $54,892. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $115,700, with a median rent of $971/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.3%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Bear Creek Community CS Bear Creek Township, PA | 6.5 |
| Blue Mountain El East School Orwigsburg, PA | 6.5 |
| Elmwood Academy Mechanicsburg, PA | 6.5 |
| Loesche William H Sch Philadelphia, PA | 6.5 |
| Lower Gwynedd El Sch Ambler, PA | 6.5 |
| Mastery CS-Harrity Campus Philadelphia, PA | 6.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Heights/murray EL Sch
What grades does Heights/murray EL Sch serve?
Heights/murray EL Sch serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Heights/murray EL Sch?
Heights/murray EL Sch has an enrollment of approximately 843 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Heights/murray EL Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Heights/murray EL Sch is 18.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Heights/murray EL Sch rank in PA?
Heights/murray EL Sch is ranked #1377 out of 2,842 schools in PA.
What is Heights/murray EL Sch's MySchoolScout rating?
Heights/murray EL Sch has a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Heights/murray EL Sch?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Heights/murray EL Sch has 18.4% math proficiency and 27.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Heights/murray EL Sch a charter school?
No, Heights/murray EL Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Heights/murray EL Sch a Title I school?
No, Heights/murray EL Sch is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Heights/murray EL Sch?
100.0% of students at Heights/murray 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (2,000/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Wilkes-barre). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 843
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 45
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Luzerne County
- Phone
- (570) 826-7256
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Wilkes-Barre Area SD- District Enrollment
- 8,134
- Schools in District
- 10
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,995
- District Rank
- #3 of 9
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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