Northwest Area SD

Shickshinny, Pennsylvania — 3 schools

906
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$23,574
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Northwest Area SD operates 3 public schools serving 906 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Pennsylvania. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 other, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 881 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Luzerne County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $23,574 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 35.7% local, 55.1% state, and 9.1% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $100,993 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 66/100, ranked #158 of 659 in Pennsylvania against a state average of 49 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (6 AP courses district-wide), a 209:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 25.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 93.3% White, 0.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian across the district's schools.

Northwest Area Hs accounts for 46.1% of all Northwest Area SD student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Northwest Area SD-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: other. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Northwest Area SD student-counselor ratio is 209:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Northwest Area SD chronic absenteeism rate is 25.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Northwest Area SD is typically wider than the Northwest Area SD-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

9.1%
Federal
55.1%
State
35.7%
Local

Funding Equity

66
Equity Score
158 / 659
State Rank
49
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Luzerne County county, where this district is located.

$863
Studio/mo
$1,028
1 BR/mo
$1,252
2 BR/mo
$1,631
3 BR/mo
$1,766
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$100,993
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Northwest Area SD.

White 93.3%
Hispanic or Latino 0.9%
Multiracial 5.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
6 AP courses total
209:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
25.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Northwest Area SD

School Enrollment
Northwest Area Hs
406
Northwest Area Intermediate Sch
260
Northwest Area Primary Sch
215

Nearby Districts in Pennsylvania

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Philadelphia City SD
118,335 students · 219 schools · $36,791/pupil
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Commonwealth Charter Academy CS
20,355 students · 1 schools · $16,959/pupil
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Pittsburgh SD
20,034 students · 56 schools · $37,128/pupil
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Central Bucks SD
17,540 students · 23 schools · $20,246/pupil
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Reading SD
17,363 students · 19 schools · $17,489/pupil
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Compare Northwest Area SD

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Philadelphia City SD →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Northwest Area SD?

Northwest Area SD has 3 schools, including 2 other, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 906 students.

How much does Northwest Area SD spend per student?

Northwest Area SD spends $23,574 per student. The district has an equity score of 66/100, ranking #158 in Pennsylvania.

What is the average teacher salary in Northwest Area SD?

The average teacher salary in Northwest Area SD is $100,993 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Northwest Area SD?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Luzerne County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Northwest Area SD?

Northwest Area SD students are 93.3% White, 0.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Northwest Area SD?

Northwest Area SD has an equity score of 66/100, ranking #158 out of 659 districts in Pennsylvania. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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