Enrollment
93
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Plains, PA
Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy
Federal NCES profile for Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 422630007650
👥 S:T ratio 0
📚 AP courses 25
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 81
📋 Attendance 54
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Pennsylvania.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in Plains · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 46.5:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy has class sizes larger than 99% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Plains, PA.
School address
District: Wilkes-Barre Area Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 422630007650 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
2.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
46.5:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+242% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy
Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy is a high-poverty, small high school in Plains, Pennsylvania, enrolling 93 students.
Class loads run heavy: 46.5:1 is larger than about 99% of Pennsylvania schools and 242% above the 13.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 100.0% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 96% of Pennsylvania schools, with 93 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Against 30 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #10.
Its student body is led by White (75%) and Hispanic or Latino (15%) (diversity index 41/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 5 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 93 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.3% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Wilkes-Barre Area Sd spends $13,221 per pupil, 26% below the Pennsylvania average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 16.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Plains's high schools, it stands alongside Wilkes-Barre Area Hs (2,569 students): Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (46.5:1 vs 22.3:1).
Wilkes-Barre Area Sd also operates Wilkes-Barre Area Hs (2,569 students) and G a R Ms (1,101 students) alongside Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy compares
Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 46.5:1 | ▲ 242% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 93 | top 96% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
46.5:1
Leaner classes than 0% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
93
Bigger than 9% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
46.5:1
students per teacher
- 242% above state mean
Top 99% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
18.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,221
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 93 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 75.3%
Hispanic or Latino 15.1%
African American 4.3%
Asian 3.2%
Two or More 2.2%
Largest group: White at 75.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.7, Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 5
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Wilkes-Barre Area Sd, which includes Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy.
$13,221
Per student
-26%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 45.8%
State 37.4%
Federal 16.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes-Barre Area Hs | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| G a R Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dr David W Kistler El Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Heights/Murray El Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Solomon/Plains Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,569
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 1,101
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 961
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 838
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 758
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar high schools in Plains
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~93 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy's federal record.
- Compare Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Wilkes-Barre Area Sd's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy
How many students attend Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy?
Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy has 93 students enrolled. It is a high school in Plains, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy is 46.5:1, which is 242% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 196% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy?
100.0% of students at Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy?
The largest demographic group at Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy is White at 75.3% of enrollment, in Plains, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy?
Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy rank among public schools in Plains?
By Resource Investment Index, Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Plains, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Plains on the city page.
Is Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy a good school?
Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Pennsylvania. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Wilkes-Barre Area Sd?
Besides Wilkes-Barre Area Sd Stem Academy, Wilkes-Barre Area Sd also operates Wilkes-Barre Area Hs (2,569 students), G a R Ms (1,101 students), and Dr David W Kistler El Sch (961 students). See the Wilkes-Barre Area Sd district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.