The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Science. The lowest is 33% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Wallenpaupack Area Ms
Wallenpaupack Area Middle School is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in Hawley, Pennsylvania, on the shores of Lake Wallenpaupack. The school enrolls students from a small district that spans parts of Wayne and Pike counties, drawing from the surrounding lake towns and rural regions.
The student body is predominantly white, with small representation from Hispanic, Black, Asian, and multiracial students. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the area's economic profile. The school's enrollment is modest for its grade band and relatively stable across the three grades.
In state assessments, the school shows mixed results. Science performance is notably strong, with more than seven in ten students reaching proficiency. English language arts sits at about half of students proficient. Mathematics presents a softer picture, with roughly one in three students proficient. Among Pike County school districts in the county comparison set, the school's overall proficiency index places it above the median, a meaningful position relative to its immediate peers.
The middle school draws from a town with deep historic roots. Hawley sits along the Lackawaxen River as a compact, walkable borough with a Victorian downtown centered on Main Avenue, where the public library, borough hall, and local shops occupy the street-level civic life. The town grew through 19th-century canal and mill industries and now functions as a residential base with seasonal tourism tied to Lake Wallenpaupack and the Pocono Mountains. Local employers include Woodloch Pines resort, Wayne County government offices, healthcare systems, and the redeveloped Hawley Silk Mill, which now houses shops, offices, and other mixed uses. Housing stock is primarily older, with only a modest share built in recent decades; a new market-rate apartment project was announced for construction in spring 2025 to address workforce-housing need.
One notable strength on the district level is a lasting curriculum expansion underway. Wallenpaupack is partnering with neighboring districts to establish the first-ever Wayne and Pike Career and Technical Center on the district's campus. Because Wayne and Pike counties had been the only two in Pennsylvania without a regional CTC, students currently face significant travel to access vocational pathways. The new center will offer half-day career and technical programs directly on campus, a substantial addition for families weighing career and dual-credit options. A parent interested in hands-on or technical pathways may want to look into this development and its timeline with the school directly.
Property taxes in the district rose in the 2024-2025 budget, though Wallenpaupack continues to maintain the lowest tax rate among the school districts serving Wayne and Pike counties, a factor relevant to families comparing tax burdens across the region.
See more original research from School Decision →