Salem School District

29 Highland Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
2/
10
Bottom 50%

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 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public high schools serving 1,011 students in Salem School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Massachusetts.
Public High Schools in Salem School District have an average math proficiency score of 28% (versus the Massachusetts public high school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Public High School in Salem School District have a Graduation Rate of 83%, which is less than the Massachusetts average of 90%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Salem High School, with 88% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Massachusetts or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Massachusetts public high school average of 50% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (MA)
# Schools
11 Schools
419 Schools
# Students
3,831 Students
328,530 Students
# Teachers
329 Teachers
27,877 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Salem School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 391 school districts in Massachusetts (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 83% has increased from 82% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MA)
#354 out of 395 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
22%
42%
27%
44%
28%
44%
83%
89.2%
(2022-23)
25%
22.8%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.63
0.67
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
2%
7%
% Hispanic
48%
26%
% Black
7%
12%
% White
38%
50%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $28,120 is higher than the state median of $25,197. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $29,517 is higher than the state median of $27,523. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (MA)
Total Revenue
$108 MM
$23,079 MM
Spending
$113 MM
$25,209 MM
Revenue / Student
$28,120
$25,197
Spending / Student
$29,517
$27,523

Best Salem School District Public High Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
New Liberty Innovation School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2 East India Square, Suite 200
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 825-3470
Gr: 9-12 | 36 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Salem Prep High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2 Museum Place Mall, 2nd Floor
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1171
Gr: 9-12 | 23 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #33.
Salem High School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
77 Willson Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-1123
Gr: 9-12 | 952 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 64%

Recent Articles

How Much Choice Do High School Students Have?
How Much Choice Do High School Students Have?
Learn how graduation requirements, prerequisites, electives, staffing, scheduling conflicts, AP courses, dual enrollment, and career pathways determine how much control high school students have over schedules each year.
Does Your Child Need More Recess?
Does Your Child Need More Recess?
Explore whether your child may benefit more from recess than another academic period, including research on attention, learning, physical activity, stress, social development, and school-day balance today.
Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know
Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know
Learn how combined-grade classrooms work, why public schools use them, potential benefits and challenges, and the questions parents should ask before enrolling their child in one today.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 11 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,831 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 62%
  • : 83% (Top 50% in MA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 22% (Btm 50%)
  • : 27% (Btm 50%)
  • : 28% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MA Dept. of Education

Quick Links