URGENT UPDATE: Test scores in Luzerne County are plunging, revealing alarming declines in student proficiency since the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest data from the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) exams shows significant drops in performance across all local school districts, particularly in language arts, raising urgent concerns for educators and parents alike.
As schools prepare for the upcoming testing season, reports confirm a troubling trend: proficiency rates across Luzerne County have fallen dramatically. The latest PSSA scores indicate that only 32.5% of students in the Wilkes-Barre Area scored proficient or advanced in language arts, reflecting a slight increase from 32.6% in 2024, while other districts experienced declines ranging from 3 to 18.6 percentage points. The Hazleton Area School District’s Superintendent Brian Uplinger remarked, “This decline is part of a broader, nationwide development in education.”
The decline in proficiency has been especially stark in language arts, where the overall proficiency rates in Luzerne County fell significantly compared to state averages. In 2025, only 48.5% of Pennsylvania students achieved proficient or advanced scores in language arts, while 41.7% did so in math. Comparatively, many Luzerne County districts trailed these averages, raising alarms about the educational impact on local students.
Detailed analysis shows a broader, concerning trend over the past decade. The drop in average annual proficiency rates in language arts ranges from 8 to 19 percentage points for Luzerne County schools when comparing pre-pandemic (2015-2019) and post-pandemic (2021-2025) averages. Math scores have also declined, albeit to a lesser extent.
Superintendent Charles Suppon Jr. of Wyoming Valley West stated, “Our district is constantly analyzing student data and making intentional decisions to identify specific areas of need.” This commitment to improvement is echoed by other district leaders, who are focusing on data-driven strategies to address these gaps.
Despite efforts to utilize digital practice software and targeted intervention programs, the results are troubling. The 2025 data shows that nine out of eleven Luzerne County districts are operating below state averages, highlighting the urgent need for action to reverse these declines.
As the educational landscape continues to shift, educators emphasize that standardized test scores do not fully encapsulate a student’s abilities. Uplinger noted, “On any given test day, students may be impacted by factors such as lack of sleep, anxiety, or personal hardships that can affect performance.” This perspective underscores the importance of holistic education that goes beyond test results.
Recent research from the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings confirms these trends, citing ongoing declines in language arts scores nationally, while math scores show signs of recovery.
Looking ahead, Luzerne County schools are poised to implement enhanced support systems and curriculum adjustments aimed at bridging learning gaps and improving overall student performance. The PSSA exams, scheduled to be administered digitally this coming school year, will serve as a critical measure of these efforts.
With the situation developing rapidly, stakeholders are urged to remain engaged as schools work to overcome these challenges and ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed in their educational journeys. The urgency of these findings cannot be overstated, as they directly impact the future of education in Luzerne County and beyond.
