Below Average
#2535 of 2,846 schools in PA
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
4.0
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
843
Student-Teacher
18.7:1
Score
4.0
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Pennsylvania schools
#2,535 of 2,846
In Wilkes-barre
#4 of 6
public schools
In district
#5 of 9
Wilkes-Barre Area SD
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Heights/murray EL Sch
Elementary School in Wilkes-barre · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
G a R MS
0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Wilkes-barre Academy
0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Heights/murray EL Sch
Heights/murray EL Sch is a public elementary school in Wilkes-barre, PA, part of Wilkes-Barre Area SD. Heights/murray EL Sch serves approximately 843 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 18.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Heights/murray EL Sch has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 out of 10 and ranks #2,535 of 2,846 schools in PA.
Structured state assessment records for Heights/murray EL Sch show 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 4.0 · Below Average
- District avg 4.1
- PA avg 6.4
What Parents Should Know
49% of students at Heights/murray EL Sch were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
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 36 test records from PA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage 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: 5.0/10.
How Heights/murray EL Sch Compares
See how Heights/murray EL Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
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 notably higher. Another option is WILKES-BARRE ACADEMY (rated 6.2/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Daniel J Flood El Sch (rated 4.3/10, 1.1 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 | 3.2 |
| 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 | 3.6 |
| 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 | 4.3 |
| 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 | 2.7 |
| WILKES-BARRE MENNONITE SCHOOL Wilkes-Barre | 1.4 mi | — |
| Wyoming Valley West MS Kingston | 1.8 mi | 3.0 |
| Chester Street El Sch Kingston | 1.8 mi | 4.0 |
| JENNY LYNN FERRARO ACADEMY Kingston | 2.1 mi | — |
| Wilkes-Barre Area SD STEM Academy Plains | 2.1 mi | 7.0 |
| Wilkes-Barre Area HS Plains | 2.1 mi | 2.9 |
| 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
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Darby Twp Sch Glenolden, PA | 4.0 |
| Farrell Louis H Sch Philadelphia, PA | 4.0 |
| Hillcrest El Sch Drexel Hill, PA | 4.0 |
| Lowell James R Sch Philadelphia, PA | 4.0 |
| Martin School Lancaster, PA | 4.0 |
| Reynolds El Sch Greenville, PA | 4.0 |
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 ranks #2,535 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Heights/murray EL Sch's MySchoolScout rating?
Heights/murray EL Sch has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 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 Heights/murray EL Sch?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Heights/murray EL Sch has 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
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
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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
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 49.1%
- Phone
- (570) 826-7256
Resources & Links
District
Wilkes-Barre Area SD- District Enrollment
- 8,134
- Schools in District
- 10
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,995
- District Rank
- #5 of 9
Other Schools in This District
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