Salem City School District

510 South College Ave
Salem, VA 24153-5054
(District boundaries shown in map)
8/
10
Top 30%

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 4 public preschools serving 1,588 students in Salem City School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public pre schools in Virginia.
Public Preschools in Salem City School District have an average math proficiency score of 63% (versus the Virginia public pre school average of 55%), and reading proficiency score of 70% (versus the 66% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 33% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Virginia public preschool average of 56% (majority Hispanic and Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (VA)
# Schools
8 Schools
1,059 Schools
# Students
4,318 Students
522,218 Students
# Teachers
355 Teachers
37,218 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.
This School District
State Average (VA)
#28 out of 135 school districts
(Top 30%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Salem City   School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
(20-21)
61%
54%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Salem City   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
(20-21)
74%
69%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Salem City   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
(20-21)
65%
59%
90%
89%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Salem City   School District and public school graduation rate of Virginia by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.56
0.72
# American Indian Students
7 Students
1,435 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
122 Students
42,355 Students
% Asian Students
3%
8%
# Hispanic Students
455 Students
104,836 Students
% Hispanic Students
11%
20%
# Black Students
721 Students
103,630 Students
% Black Students
17%
20%
# White Students
2,729 Students
231,144 Students
% White Students
63%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
693 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
279 Students
38,125 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
8%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
101
34,291
# Students in K Grade:
318
76,338
# Students in 1st Grade:
308
80,198
# Students in 2nd Grade:
323
82,775
# Students in 3rd Grade:
372
74,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
328
76,158
# Students in 5th Grade:
312
74,304
# Students in 6th Grade:
348
13,434
# Students in 7th Grade:
319
1,615
# Students in 8th Grade:
340
653
# Students in 9th Grade:
352
1,849
# Students in 10th Grade:
309
1,917
# Students in 11th Grade:
306
1,904
# Students in 12th Grade:
282
1,841
# 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.
This School District
This State (VA)
Total Revenue
$50 MM
$19,496 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Salem City   School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$63 MM
$19,187 MM
This chart displays total spending of Salem City   School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$11,594
$15,502
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Salem City   School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$14,572
$15,257
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Salem City   School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Virginia by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Salem City School District Public Preschools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
South Salem Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1600 Carolyn Rd
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:
8/
10
Top 30%
520 N Bruffey St
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2503
Grades: PK-5
| 407 students
Rank: #33.
East Salem Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1765 Boulevard
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 375-7001
Grades: PK-5
| 366 students
Rank: #44.
G.w. Carver Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
6 Fourth St
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-2492
Grades: PK-5
| 426 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 4,318 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 37%
  • : 90% (Top 50% in VA)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 61% (Top 30%)
  • : 74% (Top 20%)
  • : 65% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education

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