Best Schools near Scranton (Wilkes-Barre, Back Mountain: neighborhood, taxes, living in)

[saxman717]

Considering moving to the area (for work in Scranton) and have elementary age children, currently in private school. What are the bests schools within reasonable driving distance of Scranton?

Waverly in Abington Heights seems to be highly rated, along with most schools in that district. Are there any private schools in the area that are *better* than Waverly elementary or other Abington Heights schools at the middle and high school levels? Trying to find the schools with the best challenging & broad curriculums , class size/focus etc. Cost isn't a big issue, and if the public and private schools are on the same level, that will be good to know.

[jtab4994]

I think Abington Heights sets the standard for "good schools" in the area.

For private school there is Scranton Prep (Jesuit) and Wyoming Seminary (effectively non-denominational despite its name).

[saxman717]

Originally Posted by jtab4994

I think Abington Heights sets the standard for "good schools" in the area.

For private school there is Scranton Prep (Jesuit) and Wyoming Seminary (effectively non-denominational despite its name).

Thanks for the reply and insight! I see Scranton Prep is high school only --- are there any elementary and middle schools near Scranton that could offer a better or matching experience to the Abington Heights public schools?

Wyoming Seminary looks like a great K-12 option, but is 30 min away from Scranton and over 40 min away from surrounding areas like Clarks Summit. If we were to be working in downtown Scranton and have our kids as students at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, what would be the best areas for a family to live that keep commuting distance reasonable to both downtown Scranton (Geisinger) and Wyoming Seminary?

[jtab4994]

I'm honestly not familiar enough with the Kingston area to give advice on where to live. We really don't venture past Scranton in the direction of W-B/Kingson very often.

I can say that our son went to Marywood U in Scranton, and he lived off campus in the local Green Ridge neighborhood, which is desirable. However, Scranton public schools are sub-par (from what I hear) and local taxes are high which may affect resale value. But then, those same factors would help lower the price when you buy, and if your kids go to private school, it doesn't affect you personally.

[DavidWebb]

Originally Posted by saxman717

what would be the best areas for a family to live that keep commuting distance reasonable to both downtown Scranton (Geisinger) and Wyoming Seminary?

Go on Google Maps and look at the location where the schools are, where you'll be working, and gauge it from that....

[Wells5]

For a public school in NEPA, you can't do better than the Abington Heights School District, although I differ with the philosophy of education dictated to local PA school districts by PA State Board of Education.


The Wyoming Seminary Lower School is located in Forty Fort. It's not convenient to any location in Scranton. Tuition and fees are about $18,000 per year. If you are Catholic, Our Lady of Peace School is in Clark's Green.



There is no upscale area equivalent to the Clark's Summit area between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

[ElijahAstin]

Abington Heights is the best-regarded school district in the Scranton corridor of the Valley, with Dallas Area being a not-too-distant-second (and the best around Wilkes-Barre), and Crestwood being a more distant third (but the best around Hazleton).

Wyoming Seminary is a highly well-regarded (and mostly nominally Christian—Methodist to be precise) boarding and day school, but it’s a long haul from Clarks Summit. It’s a popular option for families living in the Wilkes-Barre Area and Wyoming Valley West School Districts (which are respectively regarded as dismal and mediocre).

If you’re working in Scranton and have the budget, I would stick with Clarks Summit and give Abington Heights schools a try. The Dallas Area in the Back Mountain of Wilkes-Barre is fairly nice, but it’s somewhat less upscale and there’s no reason to add all of that time to your commute.