The top reported proficiency rate is 92% in Science. The lowest is 61% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Fairview El Sch
Fairview Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Mountaintop, a car-oriented residential and industrial community south of Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County. The school enrolls a small student body in a district of four schools. It is a regular public elementary school, not a charter or magnet.
The tested portion of the school, grades three through six, shows mixed academic results. In English language arts and mathematics in the most recent tested year, proficiency rates were in the low-to-middle range. Reading and math both showed proficiency around six out of ten tested students. Science results, however, were substantially stronger, with proficiency above nine out of ten. Science results come from a smaller tested group, so the contrast is notable. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places the school in the top quartile relative to districts in Luzerne County, a meaningful position.
The school's enrollment of about six hundred thirty students spans all early grades evenly, with the smallest cohort in second grade. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian, Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. Data on special education enrollment and English learner enrollment were not available.
Mountaintop itself is an unincorporated community built along a commercial strip rather than around a walkable center. The area has grown steadily as a residential choice south of Wilkes-Barre, with active new subdivision development and employment expanding at a large industrial park. Home values are moderate relative to state and national benchmarks. Most families drive to work, with two cars per household typical. The Marian Sutherland Kirby Library and Wright Township Recreation Park serve as civic anchors; there is no fixed-route public transit, and access depends on a car via Route 309 and nearby interstates.
The district approved its current budget with no property tax increase, holding the millage rate steady. In the prior year, 2022, the board had approved a property tax increase below the state maximum. The district faced a substantial budget shortfall in 2024 that led the board to vote on potential employee suspensions for 2024-25, signaling staffing pressure. Capital projects including sewer line replacement are underway and funded partly by new bond issuance, which will add debt service costs over roughly a decade. For a family considering the school, this budget trajectory and the earlier staffing uncertainty merit a direct conversation with the district about current staffing and instructional resources.
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