The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in Science. The lowest is 30% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Cs
Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Charter School is a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade charter school in Scranton serving a student body drawn from surrounding districts. The school draws its name and instructional approach from educational psychologist Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, which posits that learning and cognition extend beyond traditional linguistic and logical-mathematical abilities. The school operates with a public lottery admission system, with preference given to students from the Scranton and Abington Heights school districts.
The school's recent development has been shaped by substantial physical expansion. In August 2022, the school completed a significant two-story addition that added seven middle-school classrooms, a dedicated science classroom, a new main entrance and office, and expanded parking and vehicle queuing for arrival and dismissal. This expansion directly supported enrollment growth and allowed the school to strengthen its middle-grades programming, a material fact for families considering a multi-year K-8 commitment. Current enrollment sits at roughly a mid-range size for its grade band, with consistent class sizes across grades and small numbers in kindergarten.
Academically, the school's testing profile shows a split picture. In English language arts on Pennsylvania's state assessment, the school's proficiency rate places it in the top quartile of Lackawanna County district schools. Science proficiency is notably strong. However, mathematics proficiency lags substantially behind the other two subjects and reflects a weakness a parent should understand clearly. The school tests students in grades three through eight; no state testing occurs in the early grades. Trend data was unavailable, so it is unclear whether these patterns are stable or moving.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian, Hispanic, and Black students. A substantial share of the school's enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting meaningful economic diversity among families. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available from the state records provided.
Scranton itself is a mid-sized city and county seat with a mixed downtown anchored by historic commercial districts and civic institutions, ringed by dense residential neighborhoods. Housing values in the school's zip code are below the state benchmark and have declined slightly year-over-year, while rental costs have risen. The city's economy is anchored by health care, higher education, government, and logistics. Downtown Scranton is walkable and compact; outside the core and immediately adjacent neighborhoods, the city becomes more car-dependent. The school is located on East Mountain, within the city limits.
Families considering Howard Gardner should weigh the school's genuine strength in language arts and science, the deliberate curriculum design around multiple intelligences, the relatively recent expansion of physical plant and capacity, and the lottery-based entry that does not guarantee admission. The mathematics results warrant direct conversation with the school about instructional approach, staffing, or other factors. For families committed to public school choice and multiage progression through middle grades, the school offers a distinct option within a region where charter schools are limited.
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