Skip to main content

Very Good

#1004 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 38% in state

Salem Elementary

Elementary School · Wake County Schools · Apex, NC

A Wake County Schools elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.

6116 Old Jenks Road, Apex, NC 27523

  • Math 75% vs NC 59% (2025)
  • Reading 65% vs NC 53% (2025)
  • 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.5Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.74 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.8Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency74.6% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency64.5% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+10.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+17.9 pts
Overall Proficiency70% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)71% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-0.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile67th
Resources & Environment9.3Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.2:1
District spending per student$11,691
Chronic Absenteeism14.6%

Students at Salem Elementary score 70% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 70%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NC proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.

Math Proficiency75%(2025 NC)
School
State
59%(2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency65%(2025 NC)
School
State
53%(2025 NC)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 14 points since 2020, reaching 70% in 2025.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
91%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
91%
ELA
87%
2011
Math
90%
ELA
85%
2012
Math
70%
ELA
65%
2013
Math
69%
ELA
65%
2014
Math
69%
ELA
63%
2015
Math
60%
ELA
57%
2016
Math
58%
ELA
56%
2017
Math
54%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
47%
ELA
49%
2019
Math
47%
ELA
49%
2020*
Math
56%
ELA
55%
2021*
Math
56%
ELA
55%
2022
Math
72%
ELA
65%
2025
Math
75%
ELA
65%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

21.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Salem Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Raleigh map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 26Car-Dependent
  • Bike 40Somewhat Bikeable
  • County Safety: Low115/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$122,401

Median home value

$585,900

Median rent

$1,805/mo

College educated

68%

Homeownership

69.1%

Poverty rate

7.2%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27523; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Peace Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot ratedPK–31.0 mi17Compare →
Peak Charter AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified7.9K–81.1 mi775Compare →
Thales Academy Apex K-5Private · tuition5.3privateK–51.2 mi560Compare →
Baucom ElementaryEnrollment path unverified8.8PK–51.3 mi560Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Wake County Schools

Schools in district
197
Rank in district
#114 of 194
District spending per student
$11,691NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
9.5%Census SAIPE · 2024

Salem Elementary is listed in Wake County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Salem Elementary

Salem Elementary is a public elementary school in Apex, NC, part of Wake County Schools, serving approximately 753 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,004 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about Salem Elementary

Sources:School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.Reviewed for accuracy.

Salem Elementary School is a multi-track institution located in Apex, North Carolina, serving the Cary, Apex, and Raleigh communities 1. The school has an enrollment of approximately 700 students and is supported by about 95 staff members 1. Dr. Sarah Oatsvall serves as the principal 1. The school's stated mission is to honor and educate all students 1. Activities and programs mentioned include the Student Council, Yearbook Club, STEAM Night, International Night, and the Night of the Arts 1. The school utilizes a multi-track schedule, with specific testing dates for 3rd-5th grade EOGs in May and June listed for Track 1 1. Kindergarten orientation sessions are scheduled for June 1. Testimonials from students, alumni, and parents highlight engagement in safety patrol, library assistance, and student government, as well as positive experiences with teachers and creative lessons 1.
Sources (1)
  1. salemes.wcpss.net
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source.Report inaccuracy

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Salem Elementary

What grades does Salem Elementary serve?

Salem Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Salem Elementary?

Salem Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 753 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Salem Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Salem Elementary is 13.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Salem Elementary rank in NC?

Salem Elementary ranks #1,004 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Salem Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Salem Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Salem Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Salem Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Salem Elementary a charter school?

No, Salem Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Salem Elementary a Title I school?

No, Salem Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Salem Elementary?

21.1% of students at Salem Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
753
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
57
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Wake County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.6%
Area population (ZIP 27523)
18,330
Area average commute
24.7 min
Area median age
39.7
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 27523; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.