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 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 80% (versus the Virginia public pre school average of 70%), 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
Student By Grade
District Rank
Salem City School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 132 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%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
79%
68%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)74%
69%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)65%
59%
Graduation Rate
91%
89%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
3%
8%
% Hispanic
11%
20%
% Black
17%
20%
% White
63%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
8%
All Ethnic Groups
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 Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 389 students
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
Grades: PK-5
| 407 students
Rank: #33.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 366 students
Rank: #44.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 426 students
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