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
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 Students
9 Students
1,446 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
92 Students
44,247 Students
% Asian Students
3%
8%
# Hispanic Students
1,792 Students
157,705 Students
% Hispanic Students
47%
26%
# Black Students
289 Students
61,567 Students
% Black Students
8%
10%
# White Students
1,462 Students
310,647 Students
% White Students
38%
51%
# Hawaiian Students
8 Students
511 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
153 Students
29,006 Students
% of Two or more races Students
4%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
178
20,531
# Students in K Grade:
307
58,912
# Students in 1st Grade:
299
64,458
# Students in 2nd Grade:
310
66,664
# Students in 3rd Grade:
307
64,731
# Students in 4th Grade:
339
65,978
# Students in 5th Grade:
305
67,142
# Students in 6th Grade:
239
67,086
# Students in 7th Grade:
257
56,371
# Students in 8th Grade:
261
53,443
# Students in 9th Grade:
286
5,579
# Students in 10th Grade:
250
5,198
# Students in 11th Grade:
227
4,867
# Students in 12th Grade:
238
4,504
# Ungraded Students:
8
140
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
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