School districts with municipalities in Lackawanna County showed mixed results in their 2025 scores on the state’s two standardized tests, while district leaders emphasized ways they are helping students improve academically.
The 2025 test scores for proficiency in the various subjects tested in the Keystone Exams and Pennsylvania System of School Assessment went up in some subjects from 2024, mainly in literature and math, a Times-Tribune analysis found, while scores declined between 2024 and 2025 in other areas, notably English language arts.
The Keystone Exams assess student proficiency in Algebra I, biology and literature annually and are administered to juniors. The PSSA is administered yearly to students in grades three through eight and assesses their skills in math and English language arts.
On the Keystones, Lakeland, Lackawanna Trail, Forest City Regional and Valley View School District had scores that went up in all subject areas tested from 2024 to 2025. Meanwhile, Abington Heights and Carbondale Area School District had decreases in all the subject areas tested from 2024 to 2025, according to the analysis.
Literature had the highest proficiency rate in Lackawanna County school districts, with many districts exceeding 50% proficiency. Districts with the largest increases in proficiency from 2024 to 2025 were North Pocono, Forest City Regional, Lackawanna Trail, Mid Valley and Dunmore school districts.
The analysis showed 10 out of 12 districts exceeded the state average of 50.4% for literature proficiency; nine out of 12 were above the state average for biology proficiency of 29.7% and eight out of 12 districts exceeded the state average of 28.2% for Algebra I proficiency.
School districts had more declines on the PSSA, with the scores decreasing in at least one subject area for all 12 school districts with a municipality in Lackawanna County from 2024 to 2025, with Abington Heights, Forest City Regional, Lackawanna Trail, Lakeland, North Pocono and Old Forge having the smallest decreases in their scores. English language arts had largest decrease in scores for all districts, while math had the lowest, according to the analysis.
Only Scranton, Old Forge, North Pocono, Mid Valley, Lakeland and Abington Heights school districts had an increase in a subject area tested. Lakeland had the largest increase in any subject area, with a 10% increase in its math score for all students.
Fewer school districts exceeded the state average on the PSSAs compared to the Keystone Exams, with five out of 12 meeting or exceeding the state average of 25.1% for math proficiency, and seven out of 12 districts exceeded state average of 36% for English language arts proficiency.
Superintendents contacted about their 2025 test results said they were happy with them but there is room for improvement.
Lakeland Superintendent Marc Wyandt indicated he was pleased progress was made on his district’s results, but said they showed areas of continued focus for the district, something that isn’t new.
“That’s kind of every year, where you have some areas where we see progress and some areas where we see a need to continue our focus,” Wyandt said. “I think that overall we’re continually striving each and every year to make sure that we’re improving and that we’re seeing progress in student performance at all levels, in all grade levels.”
He said the biggest gains in the district were the math scores for grades three through six and English language arts scores at the elementary level, while areas of focus are math performance at the high school.
Wyandt attributes the increase in the district’s test scores to teachers, whom he said “work everyday with the students in the classroom and make a difference.” Other strategies used include curriculum revisions, professional development and improved instructional strategies.
“Every educator is very focused on ensuring that our students succeed and reach their potential,” he said, adding the district is also fortunate to have hardworking students and supportive families.
Old Forge Superintendent Christopher Gatto said he is also pleased with the progress students have made on the tests, with the most notable growth being at the high school.
“My indicator is if we see growth that eventually the proficiency numbers are going to follow,” he said.
Mid Valley Superintendent Patrick Sheehan said the patterns in his district’s PSSA scores mirror broader statewide trends between 2024 and 2025, with math proficiency slightly up overall and English language arts down. But he said officials are proud of students’ growth in many areas, especially the 2025 Keystone Exams in biology and literature, where Sheehan said statewide proficiency in both areas decreased.
To improve their scores, Gatto said the district has a data team of teachers and administrators that examines the test data. They look at what students learned and how it is reflected in the scores to see if improvement is needed. Officials also utilize benchmark testing throughout the year, which he said gives teachers valuable data about how students are doing academically.
“They’re able to take a look and see a real time snapshot of where students are and be able to make adjustments with how they’re teaching or what they’re teaching based on student need,” Gatto said.
North Pocono Superintendent Daniel Powell said the district continues to address gaps, which he said are most likely related to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the individual needs of each new class of students as they progress into the schools.
“We are working to prepare our students to the new required electronic format of state testing this school year and look forward to seeing those results in comparison to the results we have charted over the past years,” he said.
Wyandt said district officials try to make long-term decisions that support continued improvement and aren’t a reaction to single-year changes in student achievement data.
Sheehan said the district is focused on Tier I instruction to ensure it is differentiated, scaffolded and enriched for the district’s diverse learners, as well as improving student attendance and mental health, which he said are both known barriers to improvement.
“We recognize that there is always room for continued improvement in all areas, and we are committed to building on our recent gains,” Sheehan said.