Heights Terrace El/MS

As a substantial elementary school in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Heights Terrace El/MS instructs 1,236 students from grades K through 8, overseen by Hazleton Area SD. Compared to the state average of about 443 students per school, that is 179% larger than typical.

Within Hazleton Area SD, which oversees 11 schools and 13,071 students, Heights Terrace El/MS is one campus in the system.

Looking at the student body, Heights Terrace El/MS shows that the student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic (91%). Beyond that, the school reports 7% White. By comparison, Luzerne County as a whole is about 17% Hispanic, so the school skews considerably more Hispanic than its surroundings.

Looking at school resources, The school lists 68 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 18.1:1. That figure is higher than the state norm's 13.1:1 average. Around 98% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Luzerne County runs at roughly 85%, so the school's eligibility rate is meaningfully above the surrounding baseline.

With demographic context factored in, Heights Terrace El/MS tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 35.7% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 23.9%.

In the surrounding community, census data for Luzerne County shows median household income runs about $63,691, 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 11%. Heights Terrace El/MS is one of 65 public schools in Luzerne County (combined enrollment of about 45,209 students).

Nearest neighbor: Hazleton El/MS, around 1.5 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Among the 6 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Heights Terrace El/MS ranks 3rd on composite proficiency, beneath the local average of 24.0%.

The school occupies a suburban site.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Heights Terrace El/MS has edged up 14%, going from 1,088 students in 2018 to 1,236 in 2025. Over the same period, the Hispanic share grew from 81% to 91%. Class-load math has loosened: from 16.3:1 in 2018 to 18.1:1 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, members of the Heights Terrace El/MS community share and discuss open house dates, ride-share offers, and field-trip permission slips. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.