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Public high school · Salem City Public Schools · Salem, Virginia

Salem High

Salem High rates 8.3, right at the middle of Salem City Public Schools's high schools, whose rated median is 8.3.

High schools, 1 to 10This campus against public high schools around it that are rated on verified state test data.
8.3this school

8.3 on a one-to-ten scale; the Salem City Public Schools median is 8.3.

#228 of 1,854 schools in Virginia · Salem City Public Schools: 1 high schools rated, median 8.3

The brief

A Salem City Public Schools high school where students score 12 points above what's typical for similar communities.

It ranks 228 of 1,854 schools in Virginia and 1 of 6 in Salem City Public Schools.

Salem High is listed in Salem City Public Schools, and a district label does not verify attendance for an address: confirm the zoned campus with the district before you commit to a street.

Math92%17 points above the Virginia average of 75%345 students tested · 2025 SOL
Reading91%15 points above the Virginia average of 76%306 students tested · 2025 SOL
Proficiency has held near 92% across the 17-year record (2009–2025).2025 SOL; 27 test records from VA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

What the rating is made of, each out of 10

Student Progress
8.4
25% of the rating
Academics
9.4
25% of the rating
College Readiness
7.5
30% of the rating
Resources & Environment
8.1
20% of the rating
About this school's data1 correction under review · rating: low confidence · 7 sources, 2019–2025

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

Attendance data is under correction. This existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating may still reflect an unverified attendance input.

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 82% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 92% (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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 SOL · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 SOL · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 SOL. A newer release may be available.
  • 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 24153; 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

The neighborhood

Where it sits, and what the area looks like.
Salem High and the 20 nearest high schools, each pin colored by its score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Verify the enrollment path with the district.

The area

Median income
$72,691
Median home value
$251,400
Median rent
$1,058/mo
College educated
30%
Homeownership
71.7%
Poverty rate
10.1%

U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 24153; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Getting around

Walk Score
32
Car-Dependent
Bike Score
42
Somewhat Bikeable
City reported crime
1,341/100K
Reported Part-1 offenses (violent + property + arson) per 100,000 residents, from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program for Salem. This is a city-level reported-crime measure, not a school safety rating.

Walk, transit and bike scores byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2025 · city context (Salem), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2025. Freshness not available.

Programs and who goes here

What the campus offers, and who it enrolls.

Programs

AP and IB
3 AP courses · IB Programme
19.5% participation · state average 2.9 AP courses · 261 IB enrolled · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics
19 sports
9 boys' · 10 girls' · 28 teams (incl. JV) · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM courses
5 of 5
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted and talented
Available
A program for qualifying students · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Who goes here

Free or reduced lunch
41.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance. Shown separately, never in the score.

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD).

Compare nearby

Grade-compatible schools using the same rating model.
Public-school ratings. Grade-compatible schools within 5 miles, best rated first.
  1. Salem Highthis school
    8.3
  2. 7.8Compare →
  3. 7.7Compare →
Two grade-compatible schools using the same rating model sit within 5 miles, and none rates higher than Salem High.Public-school ratings. Straight-line distance from this campus. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries; verify the enrollment path with the district.

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

The record

What is on file, and where each number came from.

The public record

What's said publicly about Salem High

Sources:School's websiteWikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Salem High School is the sole public high school serving the City of Salem public school system in Virginia 2. The Salem City School Division, which operates the school, states its mission is to provide a loving and engaging environment that inspires children to reach their full potential 3. The division offers resources to support mental health and wellness 3. Additionally, the school division received $37,000 for unique summer programs 3. The division also administers the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI), a grant-funded preschool opportunity available to families living within Salem City limits who meet specific criteria 3. VPI spaces are limited, with priority given to students who will be three by September 30th, while other slots are open to those who will be four by that date 3. Applications for VPI are reviewed in mid-April, and interested parties can contact Dr. Megan Crew, Coordinator of State and Federal Programs, for questions 3.
Sources (2)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
  2. salem.k12.va.us
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source.Report inaccuracy

Questions families ask

What grades does Salem High serve?

Salem High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Salem High?

Salem High has an enrollment of approximately 1,213 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Salem High?

The student-teacher ratio at Salem High is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Salem High rank in VA?

Salem High ranks #228 of 1,854 schools in VA.

What is Salem High's MySchoolScout rating?

Salem High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 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 High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Salem High has 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 92% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Salem High a charter school?

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

Is Salem High a Title I school?

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

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

41.5% of students at Salem High 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 facts

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,213
Student-teacher ratio
11.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
103
Type
Regular
Title I
No
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Salem city
4-year graduation
91.0%
Class of 2023
Rank in district
#1 of 6
Schools in district
8
District spending per student
$14,892
NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
11.7%
Census SAIPE · 2024
Area population (ZIP 24153)
38,249
Area average commute
20.1 min
Area median age
42.5

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24).

Related reading

Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Virginia Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.