Salem High School is a public high school in Salem, Virginia. It is the sole high school for the City of Salem public school system. Until 2022, Salem was an International Baccalaureate world school, certified for the Diploma Programme.
Serving 1,202 students in grades 9-12, Salem High School ranks in the top 30% of all schools in Virginia for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 60-79% (which is approximately equal to the Virginia state average of 68%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 91% (which is higher than the Virginia state average of 69%).
The student-teacher ratio of 9:1 is lower than the Virginia state level of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 35% of the student body (majority Black), which is lower than the Virginia state average of 56% (majority Black).
Quick Facts (26-27)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,202 students
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
- Minority Enrollment: 35%
- Graduation Rate: 91% (Top 50% in VA)
- Overall Testing Rank: Top 30%
- Math Proficiency: 60-79% (Top 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 91% (Top 5%)
- Science Proficiency: 73% (Top 20%)
- Attendance Zone: Salem High's attendance zone covers the entire district in Salem, VA, spanning approximately 14.5 square miles. The typical drive to the school from various points in the zone ranges from 5 to 10 minutes, with the furthest edge located about 3.9 miles away.
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
Salem High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Virginia for:
Category
Attribute
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Science Proficiency
School Overview
Salem High School's student population of 1,202 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 133 teachers has grown by 58% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
(Primarily virtual)
(Primarily virtual)
Total Students
1,202 students
Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓
Total Classroom Teachers
133 teachers
Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓
Year Founded
1977
School Calendar
School Rankings
Salem High School ranks within the top 30% of all 1,773 schools in Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Salem High School is 0.54, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.72. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#431 out of 1773 schools
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
60-79%
68%
Showing 2011–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)91%
69%
Showing 2011–2021. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)73%
59%
Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
14:1
Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓
Asian
3%
8%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓
Hispanic
10%
20%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 25-year historical data available below ↓
Black
17%
21%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓
White
65%
44%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓
Two or more races
5%
7%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
Showing 2016–2025. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓
Graduation Rate
91%
88.8%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(22-23)19.7%
19.1%
Eligible for Free Lunch
36%
57%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
4%
2%
Showing 2015–2025. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Sports
Colors
Maroon, Silver
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Salem High School's ranking?
Salem High School is ranked #431 out of 1,773 schools, which ranks it among the top 30% of public schools in Virginia.
What schools are Salem High School often compared to?
Salem High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Cave Spring High School, Hidden Valley High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
60-79% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 68% VA state average), while 91% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 69% VA state average).
What is the graduation rate of Salem High School?
The graduation rate of Salem High School is 91%, which is higher than the Virginia state average of 88.8%.
How many students attend Salem High School?
1,202 students attend Salem High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
65% of Salem High School students are White, 17% of students are Black, 10% of students are Hispanic, 5% of students are Two or more races, and 3% of students are Asian.
What is the student-teacher ratio of Salem High School?
Salem High School has a student ration of 9:1, which is lower than the Virginia state average of 14:1.
What grades does Salem High School offer ?
Salem High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (Primarily virtual).
What school district is Salem High School part of?
Salem High School is part of Salem City School District.
School Reviews
5 10/10/2025
This is my fourth year attending Salem High School. Salem has many great opportunities to offer. Salem High School offers the International Baccalaureate program. The school is well kept up. The teachers are super friendly and easy to get along with. The student body as a whole is inviting. Bullying is not a problem at Salem. From my standpoint, everyone seems to get along with everyone else. Salem has awesome activities to take part in. We have several clubs students can join. Salem offers NHS. The only complaint I have about the school system is SOL's. This is not in particular the school's fault, but rather the state's fault. Every school in Virginia spends too much time focusing on reviewing for the SOL instead of prioritizing education.
I would definitely recommend this school.
Review Salem High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
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