The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in Science. The lowest is 48% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Preston Sch
Preston School serves a small, predominantly white, rural K-8 community in Lakewood, Wayne County. The school sits in the civic heart of Preston Township, a very low-density area of about 20 people per square mile, where the school, township government, and community library form the primary institutional cluster along Crosstown Highway. Enrollment is small, with roughly even distribution across kindergarten through eighth grade. The student body is economically disadvantaged, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Hispanic students make up a small share of enrollment; the school is predominantly white.
The testing data available shows mixed academic performance. In the most recent math assessment, roughly half of students in grades 3-8 tested at proficiency level. English language arts proficiency was slightly lower, with less than half of tested students meeting standard. Science proficiency, reported from a prior year, was notably stronger at roughly seven in ten. The school tested roughly 90 students in math and language arts, drawn from the larger total enrollment. Scale scores and participation rates were not available, so the full picture of assessment results cannot be seen from the data provided. When the school's overall proficiency rate is positioned against other districts in Wayne County, Preston sits above the midpoint, indicating that while results are moderate, the school is performing comparatively better than at least one district peer.
The district itself, Wayne Highlands School District, made a permanent increase to property tax millage for the 2024-2025 school year, a change that affects all homeowners in the district, including those in Lakewood. That tax adjustment is part of the broader fiscal environment families in the area live within.
Lakewood itself is a quiet, seasonal residential area known for summer camps, large-lot single-family homes, and outdoor recreation on lakes and trails. The area is entirely car-dependent with no walkable commercial core. Housing values in the ZIP code are modest relative to national benchmarks and have appreciated modestly year over year. Population in Preston Township has been flat or declining, and there is no indication of major new residential development. Growth is slow, and the economic character remains tied to agriculture, tourism, and seasonal use.
A parent considering Preston School is choosing a small, rural school in a tight-knit residential area where the institution serves as a genuine community hub. The school's test results are moderate, with particular strength in science. The setting offers the quiet, outdoor-focused lifestyle typical of rural northeastern Pennsylvania, along with stable, long-term families and limited ethnic or socioeconomic diversity. The economics of the township and district are stable but not expanding, and families should be aware of the recent property tax increase that will affect housing costs going forward. A parent may want to look into the school's English language arts instruction further, given the lower proficiency rate in that subject, and to understand what instruction and support are available for the students not meeting proficiency in math.
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