Top Rankings
Salem City School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Virginia for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 6 public elementary schools serving 2,782 students in Salem City School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public elementary schools in Virginia.
Public Elementary Schools in Salem City School District have an average math proficiency score of 79% (versus the Virginia public elementary school average of 67%), and reading proficiency score of 71% (versus the 67% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Virginia public elementary school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (VA)
# Schools
8 Schools
1,495 Schools
# Students
3,984 Students
832,373 Students
# Teachers
363 Teachers
59,988 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Salem City School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 131 school districts in Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 91% has decreased from 93% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#19 out of 132 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
79%
68%
Showing 2011–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)74%
69%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)65%
59%
Graduation Rate
91%
88.8%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)16.4%
19.1%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.72
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
3%
7%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
12%
20%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 22-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
16%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% White
63%
44%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
8%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,798 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,383. The school district revenue/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,195 is less than the state median of $18,168. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$59 MM
$23,109 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$65 MM
$22,838 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$14,798
$18,383
Showing 2012–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$16,195
$18,168
Showing 2012–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Salem City School District Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
South Salem Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1600 Carolyn Rd
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2478
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2478
Gr: PK-5 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #22.
West Salem Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
520 N Bruffey St
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2503
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2503
Gr: PK-5 | 375 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #33.
Andrew Lewis Middle School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
616 South College Ave
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2513
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2513
Gr: 6-8 | 839 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #44.
East Salem Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1765 Boulevard
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 375-7001
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 375-7001
Gr: PK-5 | 378 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #55.
G.w. Carver Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6 Fourth St
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2492
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2492
Gr: PK-5 | 404 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: n/an/a
510 South College Ave
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 389-0130
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 389-0130
Gr: K-12 | 415 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
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