BREAKING: The latest data reveals a troubling trend in Luzerne County, where PSSA scores continue to decline significantly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With standardized tests indicating profound drops in student proficiency, local educators are sounding the alarm about the long-lasting effects of the health crisis on education.
As of 2025, every school district in Luzerne County has seen sharp declines in proficiency rates on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams for language arts and math. The most alarming statistic shows 18.6 percentage points drop in proficiency for the Northwest Area School District alone. In contrast, the Wilkes-Barre Area School District is the sole exception, with scores inching up from 32.5% to 32.6%.
This crisis is not limited to Luzerne County; similar patterns are evident across Pennsylvania. The 2025 data indicates that only 48.5% of students statewide scored proficient or advanced in language arts, a decrease from 53% in 2024. Math scores saw a modest increase, rising from 40.4% to 41.7%, yet the overall landscape remains concerning.
Hazleton Area Superintendent Brian Uplinger emphasized that these trends reflect a nationwide challenge. “The decline in the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced following the COVID-19 pandemic is a trend seen not only in the Hazleton Area School District but across Luzerne County, throughout Pennsylvania, and across the nation,” he stated.
A review of the last decade’s PSSA scores shows that ten school districts in Luzerne County have experienced declines of 3% to 12% in language arts proficiency rates. The ramifications of these declines are severe, as educators struggle to bridge widening learning gaps exacerbated by the pandemic.
Despite the overall downward trend, some districts are taking proactive measures. Wyoming Valley West Superintendent Charles Suppon Jr. shared that the district is committed to improving student outcomes through targeted support. “We are constantly analyzing student data and making intentional, data-driven decisions to identify specific areas of need,” he stated.
Furthermore, educators are increasingly utilizing digital-practice software to prepare students for upcoming tests, which are set to be conducted entirely online this year. Dallas Superintendent Thomas Duffy noted, “We’ve been able to offer students before and after school and summer programs to offer remediation and additional help.”
The ongoing decline in PSSA scores highlights the need for immediate action. As educators strive for recovery, Uplinger warns against viewing test scores as the sole measure of student success. “On any given test day, factors such as lack of sleep, anxiety, or family hardships can impact performance,” he explained.
With the stakes higher than ever, Luzerne County’s educational leaders are pledging to tackle these challenges head-on. The community is urged to keep a close eye on the developments as schools implement new strategies to reverse this concerning trend.
As the situation unfolds, local officials remain dedicated to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed, emphasizing a holistic approach to education that transcends standardized testing metrics.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on this developing story as Luzerne County grapples with the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its educational system.
