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Heights/Murray Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

1171^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,511 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Better than 23% of Pennsylvania elementary schools

Summary

Heights/Murray Elementary School is a public elementary school in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, serving 843 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, which is ranked 434 out of 606 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Heights/Murray Elementary School has consistently ranked in the bottom 25% of Pennsylvania elementary schools over the past 10 years, with low proficiency rates on PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) tests in both Math and English Language Arts (ELA) across all grade levels. In 2024-2025, only 30.3% of students were proficient or better in Math, compared to the state average of 41.7%, and the ELA proficiency rate was 27.1%, compared to the state average of 48.5%. The school's performance has been declining in recent years, which is concerning and may indicate a need for the school and district to reevaluate their instructional strategies and resource allocation.

While the nearby Solomon/Plains Elementary School and Dr. David W. Kistler Elementary School also have high percentages of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, they generally perform better on PSSA tests than Heights/Murray Elementary School. Similarly, schools in the neighboring Wyoming Valley West School District, such as Dana Elementary Center and Chester Street Elementary School, have slightly higher academic performance than Heights/Murray Elementary School, but still struggle with low proficiency rates compared to the state averages.

838

Students ?

16.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,832

Per pupil spending ?

100.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1 S Sherman St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702-5910

(570) 826-7256

District: Wilkes-Barre Area School District

Students who attend Heights/Murray Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:

G A R Middle School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

60.4%

African American:

18.0%

White:

11.3%

See top rated Pennsylvania elementary schools

Compare Heights/Murray Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 9th percentile in 2015 → 23rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 14 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Pennsylvania average (29% vs 45% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school29%

District avg28%

Pennsylvania avg45%

1,171^st of 1,511

Pennsylvania public elementary schools ?

Bottom 23%▲ up 13 pts since 2015

From bottom 9% (2015) to bottom 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 5Elementary Schools in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District

434^th of 606Wilkes-Barre Area School District among Pennsylvania districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	22.1	1171 of 1511	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.8	1247 of 1526	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.8	1278 of 1534	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	8.6	1382 of 1534	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.3	1252 of 1433	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	5.5	1444 of 1544	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	8.0	1388 of 1530	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	7.6	1396 of 1547	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	8.2	1402 of 1554	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	8.1	1334 of 1474	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	6.0	1349 of 1467	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	10.6	1350 of 1519	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	8.4	1472 of 1599	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	22.0	1381 of 1597	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	14.2	1421 of 1579	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	30.9	1274 of 1549	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	36.1	1198 of 1551	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	33.4	1218 of 1555	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	46.6	1030 of 1545	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2005	57.0	684 of 1299	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	75.8	334 of 1308	74.5%	★★★★☆
2003	45.9	814 of 1302	37.5%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	62.7	102 of 413	75.3%	★★★★☆
2024	50.8	184 of 437	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.9	239 of 437	45.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	28.8	731 of 1030	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.0	1009 of 1084	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.4	950 of 1043	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	42.2	98 of 207	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	31.1	150 of 200	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.6	146 of 196	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	21.6	1155 of 1466	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.8	1224 of 1488	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	50.3	188 of 429	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.7	256 of 454	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.4	262 of 432	39.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	35.8	922 of 1369	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.3	1083 of 1432	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.2	1093 of 1414	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	22.9	1137 of 1475	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.5	1215 of 1495	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	8.9	1140 of 1201	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.4	1147 of 1229	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.2	1142 of 1236	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2025)75th percentile+53 vs school

Hispanic (2025)56th percentile+34 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)53rd percentile+30 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)33rd percentile+10 vs school

Disabled (2025)29th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)23rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)21st percentile~ school

White (2025)5th percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs Pennsylvania (2024-2025) ?

Math30%-11 vs state

English Language Arts27%-21 vs state

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Schools Near Heights/Murray Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PSSA Math (2025)				PSSA English Language Arts (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSSA Math 3rd Grade	PSSA Math 4th Grade	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Heights/Murray Elementary School	Public	K-5	1 S Sherman St	Wilkes Barre	18702	Luzerne County	Wilkes-Barre Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(570) 826-7256	838	50	16.8	100.6%	95 (11.3%)	151 (18.0%)	506 (60.4%)	3 (0.4%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (9.3%)	22.1	1171^st of 1511 public elementary schools	22.5%		17.8	1247^th of 1526 public elementary schools	18.3%	76	42.7	20.7	26.1	30.3	37.2	17.4	25.0	27.1	$13,832	$1,477	$12,355
Dodson Elementary School	Public	K-5	13 Hillard St	Wilkes Barre	18702	Luzerne County	Wilkes-Barre Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(570) 235-6894	522	26	20.1	92.5%	44 (8.4%)	78 (14.9%)	356 (68.2%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (7.7%)	17.1	1246^th of 1511 public elementary schools	17.5%		18.3	1240^th of 1526 public elementary schools	18.7%	6	26.5	19.3	17.1	21.4	42.2	19.3	17.1	27.4	$14,125	$1,425	$12,700
Daniel J Flood Elementary School	Public	K-5	565 N Washington St	Wilkes Barre	18705	Luzerne County	Wilkes-Barre Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(570) 826-7245	616	37	16.7	100.6%	104 (16.9%)	95 (15.4%)	367 (59.6%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (7.6%)	38.8	980^th of 1511 public elementary schools	35.1%		26.1	1143^rd of 1526 public elementary schools	25.1%	163	40.7	49.2	33.3	40.3	31.9	51.5	40.0	40.0	$13,624	$1,234	$12,390
Third Avenue Elementary School	Public	K	131 Rear Third Ave & Davis St	Kingston	18704	Luzerne County	Wyoming Valley West School District	No	No	No	No	(570) 288-2282	97	10	10.0	102.1%	26 (26.8%)	20 (20.6%)	42 (43.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (8.2%)								(n/a)									$17,729	$2,958	$14,771
Chester Street Elementary School	Public	1-5	110 East Chester Street	Kingston	18704	Luzerne County	Wyoming Valley West School District	No	No	No	Yes	(570) 287-2438	294	21	13.8	97.6%	130 (44.2%)	44 (15.0%)	72 (24.5%)	9 (3.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (12.9%)	31.3	1070^th of 1511 public elementary schools	29.2%		20.8	1207^th of 1526 public elementary schools	20.9%	137	29.2	34.0	26.0	29.6	48.0	41.3	32.7	40.4	$17,246	$2,877	$14,369
Dr David W Kistler Elementary School	Public	K-5	301 Old River Rd	Wilkes Barre	18702	Luzerne County	Wilkes-Barre Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(570) 826-7230	961	55	17.3	100.9%	126 (13.1%)	153 (15.9%)	589 (61.3%)	8 (0.8%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	83 (8.6%)	32.1	1062^nd of 1511 public elementary schools	29.7%		27.9	1127^th of 1526 public elementary schools	26.1%	65	40.4	28.4	38.2	36.1	34.5	33.3	43.1	36.8	$13,405	$1,302	$12,102
Lee Park Elementary School	Public	3-4	99 Lee Park Ave	Hanover Township	18706	Luzerne County	Hanover Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(570) 824-4741	322	23	14.0	71.4%	152 (47.2%)	52 (16.1%)	101 (31.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.0%)	21.3	1179^th of 1511 public elementary schools	22.0%		31.6	1093^rd of 1526 public elementary schools	28.4%	86	31.7	22.4		27.1	34.2	35.9		35.1	$16,231	$2,333	$13,897
Solomon/Plains Elementary School	Public	K-5	41 Abbott St	Plains	18705	Luzerne County	Wilkes-Barre Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(570) 826-7222	718	47	15.2	98.6%	346 (48.2%)	59 (8.2%)	236 (32.9%)	10 (1.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (9.2%)	42.2	936^th of 1511 public elementary schools	38.1%		40.4	1004^th of 1526 public elementary schools	34.2%	68	54.6	38.4	38.0	43.4	53.4	34.9	34.0	40.5	$14,063	$1,230	$12,833
Lyndwood Elementary School	Public	PK-K	2 Collet St	Hanover Township	18706	Luzerne County	Hanover Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(570) 820-4301	268	18	14.6	77.2%	104 (38.8%)	40 (14.9%)	106 (39.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.7%)								(n/a)									$23,173	$3,236	$19,937
Dana Elementary Center	Public	K-5	50 Dana Street	Forty Fort	18704	Luzerne County	Wyoming Valley West School District	No	No	No	Yes	(570) 283-0591	626	36	17.2	95.8%	385 (61.5%)	37 (5.9%)	139 (22.2%)	14 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (8.0%)	35.4	1022^nd of 1511 public elementary schools	32.4%		31.4	1095^th of 1526 public elementary schools	28.2%	73	44.4	25.7	20.8	29.8	57.8	33.0	43.1	44.2	$17,265	$2,880	$14,385

Frequently Asked Questions about Heights/Murray Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Heights/Murray Elementary School?

Students at Heights/Murray Elementary School are 60% Hispanic, 18% African American, 11% White, 9% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Heights/Murray Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Heights/Murray Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : G A R Middle School

Is Heights/Murray Elementary School a good school?

Heights/Murray Elementary School ranks in the bottom 22.5% of Pennsylvania elementary schools.

How many students attend Heights/Murray Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 838 students attended Heights/Murray Elementary School.

What district is Heights/Murray Elementary School in?

Wilkes-Barre Area School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.