Top Rankings
Salem School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Massachusetts for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 7 public elementary schools serving 2,689 students in Salem School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Massachusetts.
Public Elementary Schools in Salem School District have an average math proficiency score of 21% (versus the Massachusetts public elementary school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 27% (versus the 42% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public elementary school average of 49% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
11 Schools
1,360 Schools
# Students
3,811 Students
605,604 Students
# Teachers
357 Teachers
51,596 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Salem School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 393 school districts in Massachusetts (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 76% has decreased from 82% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#357 out of 397 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
20%
41%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
27%
44%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
28%
44%
Graduation Rate
76%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.63
0.66
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
3%
8%
% Hispanic
47%
26%
% Black
8%
10%
% White
38%
51%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $25,775 is higher than the state median of $23,845. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $26,712 is higher than the state median of $24,602. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$98 MM
$21,850 MM
Spending
$102 MM
$22,544 MM
Revenue / Student
$25,775
$23,845
Spending / Student
$26,712
$24,602
Best Salem School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Carlton
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
10 Skerry Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1280
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1280
Grades: K-5
| 254 students
Rank: #22.
Saltonstall School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
211 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1297
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1297
Grades: K-8
| 390 students
Rank: #33.
Bates
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
53 Liberty Hill Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1250
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1250
Grades: PK-5
| 397 students
Rank: #44.
Horace Mann Laboratory
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
79 Willson Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1290
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1290
Grades: PK-5
| 307 students
Rank: #55.
Collins Middle School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
29 Highland Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1191
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1191
Grades: 6-8
| 625 students
Rank: #66.
Witchcraft Heights
(Math: 14% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1 Frederick Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1271
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1271
Grades: K-5
| 446 students
Rank: #77.
Bentley Academy Innovation School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
25 Memorial Drive
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1260
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1260
Grades: K-5
| 270 students
Recent Articles
What is Project-Based Learning?
Project-based learning has been highly touted by some educators as a viable option to traditional learning models. We’ll take a look at what project-based learning is and why it is getting so much attention today.
What is an Online High School
Find information about Online High Schools - what they are and how they work.
“Smart Snacks” Standards Coming to School Vending Machines Nationwide
We explore new federal regulations that will ban junk food from public schools. This means no more sweets and soda in cafeteria lines, vending machines and snacks sold in other locations around the schools.
