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Very Good

#375 of 1,850 schools in VA

Top 20% in state

Salem High

High School · Virginia Beach City Public Schools

1993 Sun Devil Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 22464

Enrollment

1,675

Student-Teacher

15.4:1

Score

7.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Virginia Beach

#13 of 82

public schools

Virginia high schools

#81 of 323

In district

#13 of 82

Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Academic performance

9.3 / 10

Exceptional

About Salem High

Salem High serves 1,675 students in grades 9-12 in Virginia Beach, making it a sizable comprehensive high school with 109 full-time teachers and a student-teacher ratio of 15.4:1. As a regular public school, Salem High provides traditional high school programming for its diverse student body. The school currently ranks in the lower half of Virginia high schools, sitting at #1382 out of 1856 schools statewide, placing it in the 26th percentile with a MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10.

This positioning suggests Salem High has significant room for academic growth and may be working to strengthen its educational outcomes for students. With over 1,600 students, Salem High offers the advantages of a larger school environment, potentially providing more course options, extracurricular activities, and resources than smaller schools. The relatively manageable student-teacher ratio allows for reasonable class sizes given the school's scale.

Salem High is located on Sun Devil Drive in Virginia Beach, positioned within one of Virginia's largest cities. This urban setting provides students with access to the broader educational, cultural, and economic opportunities that come with living in a major metropolitan area along Virginia's coast.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.6Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.34 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.3Exceptional25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency92%
Reading/ELA Proficiency94%
Math vs. State Avg+16.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+18.3 pts
Overall Proficiency93%
Expected (poverty-adj.)83%
vs. Expected+10.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile89th
College Readiness7.7Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation22.1%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.8Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,119

Salem High — Students at Salem High score 93% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 83%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

35.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 87.7%
School
State
75.4%
ELA Proficiency 92.0%
School
State
75.7%

Based on 6 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2021*
Math
79%
ELA
90%
2025
Math
92%
ELA
94%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.6/10.

How Salem High Compares

See how Salem High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
80th percentile in VA
Academic
9.3/10
9.3/10
Growth
8.6/10
Above average
Environment
4.8/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
36%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
109 teachers

Location

1993 Sun Devil Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 22464

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Salem High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Green Run Collegiate (rated 8.8/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Tallwood High (rated 7.9/10, 2.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Green Run High (rated 6.9/10, 2.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Virginia Beach, see our Virginia Beach schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Salem Middle Virginia Beach 0.3 mi 6.5
Glenwood Elementary Virginia Beach 0.7 mi 6.4
Rosemont Forest Elementary Virginia Beach 0.8 mi 6.2
Indian Lakes Elementary Virginia Beach 1.1 mi 5.3
Salem Elementary Virginia Beach 1.4 mi 5.5
Parkway Elementary Virginia Beach 1.5 mi 4.5
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Virginia Beach 1.9 mi 6.2
White Oaks Elementary Virginia Beach 1.8 mi 5.6
Providence Elementary Virginia Beach 2.0 mi 5.6
BELLAMY MANOR SCHOOL Virginia Beach 2.0 mi
Kempsville Middle Virginia Beach 2.2 mi 6.9
Larkspur Middle Virginia Beach 2.3 mi 5.7
Kempsville Meadows Elementary Virginia Beach 2.4 mi 4.1
KEMPSVILLE ACADEMY INC Virginia Beach 2.0 mi
New Castle Elementary Virginia Beach 2.2 mi 7.6
Tallwood High Virginia Beach 2.1 mi 7.9
Green Run Collegiate Virginia Beach 2.3 mi 8.8
Green Run High Virginia Beach 2.3 mi 6.9
Landstown Middle Virginia Beach 2.2 mi 6.1
Landstown Elementary Virginia Beach 2.2 mi 3.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Courtland High Spotsylvania, VA 7.7
Deep Run High Glen Allen, VA 7.7
Grassfield High Chesapeake, VA 7.7
Liberty High Bealeton, VA 7.7
Bayside High Virginia Beach, VA 7.6
Broad Run High Ashburn, VA 7.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Salem High

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 1,675 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Salem High?

The student-teacher ratio at Salem High is 15.4:1. 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 is ranked #375 out of 1,850 schools in VA.

What is Salem High's MySchoolScout rating?

Salem High has a composite rating of 7.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Salem High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Salem High has 87.7% math proficiency and 92.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

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?

35.5% 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
12 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
24 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
31 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,741/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Virginia Beach). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,675
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
109
Free/Reduced Lunch
35.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Virginia Beach city
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Virginia Beach City Public Schools
District Enrollment
64,986
Schools in District
88
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,888
District Rank
#13 of 82

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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