The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Science. The lowest is 17% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Solomon/plains Ms
Solomon/Plains Middle School sits in Plains Township on the outskirts of Wilkes-Barre, serving students in grades six through eight. The school draws from a student population where every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment reflects substantial diversity: roughly half the students identify as Hispanic, with significant shares of white and Black students, and a small population of Asian students and students identifying as two or more races.
The school's academic standing bears straightforward examination. In English language arts, proficiency in the most recent year stood below four in ten students meeting grade-level standards. Mathematics proficiency was lower still, with roughly one in six students testing at proficient levels. Science results from the prior available year showed a somewhat higher proficiency rate, though still below half. Across tested subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it below the midpoint among districts in Luzerne County.
These numbers sit against the reality of a student population where economic hardship is universal. All students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which typically correlates with lower standardized test performance. The school does not serve a high school grade band, so no graduation rate is reported. Special education and English learner enrollment data were not available in the records reviewed.
Plains Township itself is a mixed-character suburban area anchored by healthcare employment (Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, the Wilkes-Barre VA) and hospitality and gaming at Mohegan Pennsylvania casino and resort. The township's population has remained essentially flat over the past decade and a half, with growth measured in commercial investment rather than residential expansion. Home values in the zip code are modest relative to state and national benchmarks, and monthly housing costs are affordable as a share of local median household income. Most residents own their homes, and the median age skews toward the mid-40s, suggesting a mix of families, young professionals, and retirees. Daily life centers on auto-oriented corridors; the natural anchor in the southern portion is the Seven Tubs Nature Area, a trail system through scenic rock formations with waterfalls.
The school is part of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, which consolidated its three historic city high schools into a single new Wilkes-Barre Area High School in Plains Township that opened in the 2021-22 school year. The district's recent budgeting has prioritized reducing elementary class sizes and expanding its STEM Academy without raising property taxes; the district approved a 2024-25 budget with no tax increase and a plan to use budget surplus toward an enhanced homestead exemption for homeowners. A district-wide capital renovation program is upgrading buildings including energy-saving HVAC and lighting, new flooring, and lockers, funded without new borrowing and expected to complete within the next couple of years. For a family considering this school, the key variables are the economic context, the low proficiency levels, and the stability of the district's fiscal and facilities posture over the near term. A parent may want to discuss directly with the school how it approaches instruction for students reading and performing below grade level, and what academic supports are available.
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