The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in Science. The lowest is 7% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hazleton El/ms
Hazleton El/MS serves grades three through eight in a small city in Luzerne County that has undergone rapid demographic and economic change. The school sits in a place marked by growth: Hazleton is among the fastest-growing municipalities in the county, with major commercial development along the I-80/I-81 corridor and new residential construction spreading across surrounding communities. The school itself is experiencing enrollment pressure; the district, which spans three counties, has grown substantially and is building a new elementary school to address overcrowding.
The student body at Hazleton El/MS is decidedly not diverse in the way that term is often used nationally. A very large majority of students are Hispanic, with a substantially smaller share who are white and very small shares of other groups. All students at the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that encompasses the entire enrollment. This composition reflects Hazleton's documented demographic shift since the early 2000s, when a large wave of immigration, especially from the Dominican Republic, reshaped the city's character, storefronts, and schools. For families considering the school, this peer environment and the economic profile of the student body are straight facts to weigh.
Academic performance here falls well short of where the district and county sit. On state assessments in English language arts, the school's proficiency rate places it in the bottom quartile of the county's districts. Math proficiency is markedly lower still. Science results, measured in the prior school year, show better ground, though still in the lower range. Across tested subjects, the school's overall proficiency index sits notably below the county median. Parents should expect that their child will encounter a school where standardized performance is a soft spot, and a parent may want to look into further with the school what academic supports, interventions, and curriculum changes are in place to address this gap.
Special education and English learner counts are not available in the data. Given the school's demographics and setting, families may want to ask directly about the school's capacity in both areas, since either could be significant.
The school is part of a district that has made deliberate moves to expand choice. Three specialized academies opened in fall 2023: a cyber academy at Laurel Mall that has grown to serve more than a couple hundred students K-12, an arts and humanities academy in the CAN DO Corporate Center, and an early learning hub. These pathways sit within the same district and offer families alternatives to traditional classroom learning if that aligns with their child's needs.
Hazleton itself is a small mountain city with a historic downtown being revitalized around Broad Street and a newly rebuilt Church Street Station transit hub. The local economy rests on manufacturing, warehousing, and health care anchored by employers like Cargill and AutoZone. Housing values in the area are well below state and national benchmarks, and the monthly mortgage payment is well below the national average, a marker of affordability that may draw families relocating from higher-cost regions. The city has been investing in downtown walkability and cultural programming, with summer concert series and street festivals shaping street life.
The district, which spans Luzerne, Carbon, and Schuylkill counties, raised property taxes for 2025-26 and is considering further increases for 2026-27 to address a projected budget deficit. Because the district crosses county lines, tax increases vary by county, which means what families in different parts of the attendance area actually pay differs. This is a practical detail parents in the district should track.
Hazleton El/MS is a full-enrollment school in a district in motion, one where academic outcomes need attention and where families should have direct conversations with the school about the supports available to their child and about what academic trajectory looks like year to year.
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