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Best High Schools in Zip Code 18705

At a glance

Schools

2,692

Students

Districts

5-star school

Top rankedWilkes-Barre Area School District STEM Academy3^rd of 681 Pennsylvania high schools

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Summary:

The 18705 zip code area of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is home to three high schools: Wilkes-Barre Area High School, Wilkes-Barre Area School District STEM Academy, and Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center. These schools serve students in grades 9-12 and are part of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District and the Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center.

Among the three schools, the Wilkes-Barre Area School District STEM Academy stands out as a high-performing institution, consistently ranking among the top 3 high schools in Pennsylvania over the past 3 school years and earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The STEM Academy boasts significantly higher proficiency rates on Keystone Exams compared to the district and state averages, with 94.4% proficient or better in Algebra I, 83.3% in Biology, and 100% in Literature. In contrast, Wilkes-Barre Area High School and Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center appear to be lower-performing, with Wilkes-Barre Area High School ranking in the bottom half of Pennsylvania high schools and the Career & Technical Center ranking 651 out of 686 Pennsylvania high schools in 2023-2024.

The data also reveals that all three schools serve a predominantly low-income student population, with 100% of students at Wilkes-Barre Area High School and the STEM Academy qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Additionally, the significant differences in spending per student between Wilkes-Barre Area High School ($11,707) and the STEM Academy ($1,580) suggest that the resource allocation and funding models for these schools may vary, which could contribute to the performance disparities observed.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Keystone Exams Algebra I (2025)	Keystone Exams Biology (2025)	Keystone Exams Literature (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	Keystone Exams Algebra I 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Biology 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Literature 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Wilkes-Barre Area School District STEM Academy	Public	9-12	2021 Wolfpack Way	Plains	18705	Luzerne County	Wilkes-Barre Area School District	No	No	No	No	(570) 826-7111	93	3	29.3	90.3%	70 (75.3%)	4 (4.3%)	14 (15.1%)	3 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.2%)	98	3^rd of 681 public high schools	99.6%		99.1	1^st of 686 public high schools	99.9%	2	94.4	83.3	100.0	$3,667	$00	$3,667
Wilkes-Barre Area High School	Public	9-12	2021 Wolfpack Way	Plains	18705	Luzerne County	Wilkes-Barre Area School District	No	No	No	No	(570) 826-7111	2,569	110	23.4	96.1%	666 (25.9%)	381 (14.8%)	1,323 (51.5%)	25 (1.0%)	4 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	169 (6.6%)	20.4	550^th of 681 public high schools	19.2%		24.2	541^st of 686 public high schools	21.1%	9	22.4	20.9	50.8	$11,678	$585	$11,094
Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center	Public	9-12	Jumper Road Plains Township	Wilkes Barre	18705	Luzerne County	Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center	No	No	No	No	(570) 822-4131	30	35	.8	3,816.7%	11 (36.7%)	5 (16.7%)	13 (43.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)

Cities Near Zip Code 18705

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Plains	0.26 mi	4	484^th
Wilkes Barre	1.66 mi	6	672^nd
Forty Fort	1.85 mi	1	635^th
Wyoming	2.41 mi	1
Kingston	2.44 mi	4	696^th

See the top PA Pennsylvania cities

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.