Best Schools in Salem, New Hampshire
14 schools · 10 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Salem?
Use this page to compare every school in Salem by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Dr. L. F. Soule School
Elementary · Salem School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
North Salem Elementary School
Elementary · Salem School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
William T. Barron Elementary School
Elementary · Salem School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Salem for 2026 are Dr. L. F. Soule School (8.6/10), North Salem Elementary School (7.9/10), and William T. Barron Elementary School (6.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
14
10 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$438,500
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
14
10 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$438,500
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 7.9/10 despite 9% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Salem schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +9.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Salem schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Salem
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 rated schools; 14 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. L. F. Soule School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | North Salem Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | William T. Barron Elementary School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | William E. Lancaster School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Arts Academy of New Hampshire Chartered Public High School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Woodbury School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Salem High School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 8 | The Birches Academy of Academics - Art a Public Charter Sch | 4.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Mary A. Fisk Elementary School | 4.7 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $101,339
- Median home value
- $438,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 39%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 77%
18% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Salem compares
New Hampshire rank
#45 of 74
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below New Hampshire avg (6.3)
Median household income
$101k
104% of New Hampshire median
Schools in this city
11
Salem School District runs 80% of Salem's public schools
Salem touches 3 districts, but Salem School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Salem School District accounts for 8 of 10 public schools (80%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 9 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.7 to 8.6 — the spread is inside Salem, not a citywide average.
- Salem School District8 public · 80%
- Arts Academy of New Hampshire Chartered Public High School1 public · 10%
- The Birches Academy of Academics & Art A Public Charter Sch1 public · 10%
About Schools in Salem, New Hampshire
Salem's public school system spans 10 ranked schools and averages 6.5 out of 10 — solid overall, with real variation underneath that number. Three schools, 30% of the ranked total, clear the 7-point mark. Among Salem's top performers, elementary programs claim four of the five highest-scoring spots, making the elementary tier the most important part of the system for parents to research closely.
North Salem Elementary School leads the city at 7.9. William T. Barron Elementary follows at 7.8 — close enough that either school is a strong outcome for families with young children. Dr. L. F. Soule School rounds out the 7-plus tier at 7.2. Below that, William E. Lancaster School lands at 6.5, exactly at the city average, and Salem High School comes in at 6.4. The gap from the city's top elementary school to its high school is roughly 1.5 points — meaningful when comparing options across grade levels.
The performance story in Salem is an elementary-weighted one. All three schools scoring above 7.0 are elementary programs, and they outpace both the high school and the city average by a clear margin. Families entering the elementary years have the most to gain from careful school selection here. For parents of high schoolers, Salem High's 6.4 reflects the aggregate — not the ceiling — so a closer look at specific programs, course depth, and academic supports will tell a more useful story than the score alone.
When narrowing down a neighborhood, confirm attendance boundaries before committing to an address. The difference between a 7.9 and a 6.5 at the elementary level is not cosmetic — it can shape a child's academic trajectory through middle school and beyond. Pair these scores with a campus visit and a direct conversation with each school's office before making a final call.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 264 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 | ||
| 2 | 363 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 | ||
| 3 | 373 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 | ||
| 4 | 298 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.4 | ||
| 5 | 235 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.9 | ||
| 6 | 247 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.7 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 174 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 8 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 8 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Salem Kid Start KindergartenPrivate 5 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 772 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 121 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 2 | 1,114 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 125 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.0 |
Schools in Salem
Salem, New Hampshire · 14 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$101,339
Median Home Value
$438,500
Median Rent
$1,487/mo
Population
30,646
College Educated
39%
Homeownership
77%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Community Profile
Salem has a median household income of $101,339. It is an area where 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $438,500, with a median rent of $1,487/month. The local poverty rate of 4.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Hampshire
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
- Other
- 1
Resources
Other Major Cities in New Hampshire
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Salem, New Hampshire
How many schools are in Salem, New Hampshire?
Salem has 14 schools, including 10 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Salem, New Hampshire?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Salem is 6.1 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Salem, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked school in Salem on MySchoolScout is Dr. L. F. Soule School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Salem, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked elementary school in Salem on MySchoolScout is Dr. L. F. Soule School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Salem, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked middle school in Salem on MySchoolScout is Woodbury School with a composite score of 6.1/10.
What is the best high school in Salem, New Hampshire?
The top-ranked high school in Salem on MySchoolScout is Arts Academy of New Hampshire Chartered Public High School with a composite score of 6.2/10.
How many school districts serve Salem, New Hampshire?
Salem is served by 3 school districts: The Birches Academy of Academics & Art a Public Charter Sch, Arts Academy of New Hampshire Chartered Public High School, Salem School District.
What is the education level in Salem, New Hampshire?
According to Census data, 39% of adults in Salem have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Salem, New Hampshire?
The median household income in Salem is approximately $101,339 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Salem, New Hampshire?
Yes, Salem has 4 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Joseph Regional Catholic School with a score of 4.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Salem, New Hampshire?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Salem is 12.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Salem, New Hampshire?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New Hampshire Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.