Top Rankings
Salem City School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Virginia for:
Category
Attribute
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 2025 school year, there are 6 public elementary schools serving 3,105 students in Salem City School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public elementary schools in Virginia.
Public Elementary Schools in Salem City School District have an average math proficiency score of 60% (versus the Virginia public elementary school average of 53%), and reading proficiency score of 71% (versus the 67% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 38% 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
1,493 Schools
# Students
4,318 Students
828,856 Students
# Teachers
355 Teachers
59,516 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
District Rank
Salem City School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 135 school districts in Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-2021 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#28 out of 135 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)61%
54%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)74%
69%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)65%
59%
Graduation Rate
90%
89%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.72
# American Indian Students
7 Students
2,176 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
122 Students
60,924 Students
% Asian Students
3%
8%
# Hispanic Students
455 Students
159,503 Students
% Hispanic Students
11%
19%
# Black Students
721 Students
177,538 Students
% Black Students
17%
22%
# White Students
2,729 Students
367,233 Students
% White Students
63%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
1,248 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
279 Students
60,234 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
7%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
101
27,870
# Students in K Grade:
318
84,924
# Students in 1st Grade:
308
89,472
# Students in 2nd Grade:
323
93,456
# Students in 3rd Grade:
372
89,973
# Students in 4th Grade:
328
91,712
# Students in 5th Grade:
312
92,190
# Students in 6th Grade:
348
93,262
# Students in 7th Grade:
319
77,704
# Students in 8th Grade:
340
76,796
# Students in 9th Grade:
352
2,907
# Students in 10th Grade:
309
3,055
# Students in 11th Grade:
306
2,919
# Students in 12th Grade:
282
2,616
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,594 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,502. The school district revenue/student has declined by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,572 is less than the state median of $15,257. The school district spending/student has declined by 11% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$50 MM
$19,496 MM

Spending
$63 MM
$19,187 MM

Revenue / Student
$11,594
$15,502

Spending / Student
$14,572
$15,257

Best Salem City School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
South Salem Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1600 Carolyn Rd
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2478
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2478
Grades: PK-5
| 389 students
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
West Salem Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
520 N Bruffey St
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2503
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2503
Grades: PK-5
| 407 students
Rank: #33.
Andrew Lewis Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
616 South College Ave
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2513
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2513
Grades: 6-8
| 850 students
Rank: #44.
East Salem Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1765 Boulevard
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 375-7001
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 375-7001
Grades: PK-5
| 366 students
Rank: #55.
G.w. Carver Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6 Fourth St
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2492
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2492
Grades: PK-5
| 426 students
Rank: n/an/a
510 South College Ave
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 389-0130
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 389-0130
Grades: K-12
| 667 students
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