The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in Science. The lowest is 40% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ross El Sch
Ross Elementary School serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Sweet Valley, a small unincorporated rural community in Ross Township, Luzerne County. The school sits on Main Road, the principal corridor where community anchors like the volunteer fire company also gather. Enrollment is small, with about a hundred-seventy students spread across seven grades, and the population of Sweet Valley itself is modest and aging, with many retirees in the area. The surrounding Back Mountain region offers a rural setting near lakes, streams, and Ricketts Glen State Park, but daily life is car-dependent; there is no traditional pedestrian downtown or public transit system serving the community.
The school's academic profile shows uneven results across subjects. On math assessment in recent testing, proficiency reached the midpoint. Reading comprehension (English language arts) came in lower, around forty percent proficiency. Science stands out as a clear strength, with proficiency substantially above both other subjects tested. When all tested subjects and grades are combined, Ross Elementary ranks in the top quartile relative to districts in Luzerne County—a meaningful position that reflects the science performance pulling the overall picture upward despite the lower reading and math numbers.
A substantial share of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating economic pressures in the families the school serves. The enrollment is predominantly white, with very few students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Data on English learners and students receiving special education services were not available. The school is a regular public school, not charter or magnet, governed by the Lake-Lehman School District, which spans five schools across multiple townships in Luzerne and Wyoming counties.
Housing values in the Sweet Valley zip code run moderately below the state benchmark and substantially below the national average, making this an affordable area for purchase, though the region offers limited high-wage employment. Property taxes have become a cost-of-living pressure: after holding relatively steady for years, the district's 2025-26 budget raised property taxes for Luzerne County homeowners to cover rising teacher and bus driver contract costs and capital improvements. This marks a shift for families already settled in the area and a factor for those considering a move to the district.
The school feeds into the Lake-Lehman Junior-Senior High School in nearby Lehman, about ten-plus miles away, so students transition from the small Main Road campus to a larger, separated secondary setting when they leave elementary grades. Program details for Ross Elementary, such as enrichment offerings, special education provisions, or before- and after-school services, were not available. State testing data for science was from the prior school year, while math and reading results are current. A parent weighing this school should learn more from the school and district directly about how the reading results are being addressed and what academic supports and enrichment are available.
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