School district or education agency · NCES 5103460

Salem City Public Schools

Salem, VA

District overview See comparisons

Students4,318

Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.

Schools8

operational schools · 2023–24

Students4,318

students in linked records

Latest attendance year2022–23

federal comparable series

Latest finance record$14,892

per student

District, state and country

How does this district compare?

State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.

MeasureDistrictVAUnited States

Academic standing2024

51st percentile45th percentile44th percentile

This district is 6 percentile points higher than the state figure and 7 percentile points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students chronically absent2022–23

16.4%19.1%27.8%

This district is 2.7 percentage points lower than the state figure and 11.4 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Revenue per studentFY 2023

$15,722$18,290$19,509

This district is $2,568 per student lower than the state figure and $3,787 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Spending per studentFY 2023

$14,892$16,097$15,859

This district is $1,205 per student lower than the state figure and $967 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Capital outlay per studentFY 2023

$2,130$1,541$1,964

This district is $589 per student higher than the state figure and $166 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Equipment spending per studentFY 2023

$149$422$336

This district is $273 per student lower than the state figure and $187 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Special-education spending per studentFY 2023

$1,973$2,392$1,793

This district is $419 per student lower than the state figure and $180 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Salaries per studentFY 2023

$9,153$9,765$8,742

This district is $612 per student lower than the state figure and $411 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Benefits per studentFY 2023

$3,342$3,940$3,769

This district is $598 per student lower than the state figure and $427 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023

$3,835$6,935$11,715

This district is $3,100 per student lower than the state figure and $7,880 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt retired per studentFY 2023

$0$596$869

This district is $596 per student lower than the state figure and $869 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Students per teacher2023–24

12:113:115:1

This district is 1.0 students per teacher lower than the state figure and 3.0 students per teacher lower than the U.S. figure.

Students per counselor2023–24

332:1288:1376:1

This district is 44 students per counselor higher than the state figure and 44 students per counselor lower than the U.S. figure.

District staff per 1,000 students2023–24

156.3164.9138.9

This district is 8.6 staff per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 17.4 staff per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24

24.823.118.5

This district is 1.7 aides per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 6.3 aides per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24

0.70.90.9

This district is 0.2 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 0.2 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

Regular diplomas among completers2023–24

98.3%98.8%99.0%

This district is 0.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–122023–24

0.7%1.9%2.6%

This district is 1.2 percentage points lower than the state figure and 1.9 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schools

3.6%11.2%12.0%

This district is 7.6 percentage points lower than the state figure and 8.4 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schools

16.5%13.3%14.0%

This district is 3.2 percentage points higher than the state figure and 2.5 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · reporting schools

2.5%3.2%3.9%

This district is 0.6 percentage points lower than the state figure and 1.4 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schools

95.5%93.1%95.8%

This district is 2.4 percentage points higher than the state figure and 0.3 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24

+13.7%+1.2%+0.5%

This district is 12.5 percentage points higher than the state figure and 13.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals2021–22 · valid district records

39.6%45.9%50.6%

This district is 6.3 percentage points lower than the state figure and 11.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students without disabilities2021–22 · matched enrollment

4.2%4.9%4.5%

This district is 0.7 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.3 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollment

9.6%10.6%9.0%

This district is 1.0 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.6 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · matched enrollment

10.4%9.4%6.7%

This district is 1.0 percentage points higher than the state figure and 3.7 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students enrolled in district distance education2021–22 · matched enrollment

2.1%4.8%5.1%

This district is 2.7 percentage points lower than the state figure and 3.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimate

11.7%11.0%14.4%

This district is 0.7 percentage points higher than the state figure and 2.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment · 2023–24

Who attends this district?

Pre-K101 students

2.3%

Kindergarten–grade 51,961 students

45.4%

Grades 6–81,007 students

23.3%

Grades 9–121,249 students

28.9%

See enrollment for every grade

Pre-Kindergarten101

Kindergarten318

Grade 1308

Grade 2323

Grade 3372

Grade 4328

Grade 5312

Grade 6348

Grade 7319

Grade 8340

Grade 9352

Grade 10309

Grade 11306

Grade 12282

Students by race and ethnicity

White2,729 (63.2%)

Black or African American721 (16.7%)

Hispanic/Latino455 (10.5%)

Two or more races279 (6.5%)

Asian122 (2.8%)

American Indian or Alaska Native7 (0.2%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander5 (0.1%)

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.

Current staffing · 2023–24

How many staff members support students?

674.9All district staff, full-time equivalent

357.6Teachers, full-time equivalent

13School counselors, full-time equivalent

3School psychologists, full-time equivalent

107.2Instructional aides, full-time equivalent

7Librarians and media specialists, full-time equivalent

15.7School administrators, full-time equivalent

See detailed staffing

Pre-K teachers7 FTE

Kindergarten teachers18.5 FTE

Elementary teachers114.8 FTE

Secondary teachers217.3 FTE

Elementary school counselors6 FTE

Secondary school counselors7 FTE

Instructional coordinators24.4 FTE

District administrators8 FTE

District administrative support12.5 FTE

School administrative support23.8 FTE

Library and media support2 FTE

Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.

High-school outcomes · 2023–24

How many students completed school or dropped out?

298Total completers

293Regular diplomas

5Other state-recognized credentials

9Reported dropouts, grades 9–12

Regular diplomas among completers

District98.3%

VA98.8%

United States99.0%

Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–12

District0.7%

VA1.9%

United States2.6%

Final NCES Common Core of Data completer and dropout files, 2023–24. The dropout rate divides the reported annual grades 9–12 dropout count by complete grades 9–12 enrollment. It is not a cohort graduation rate. The diploma share describes credentials among completers and should not be read as a graduation rate.

Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot

How many students may need specialized support?

Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.

3.6%Students learning English137 students · 6 of 6 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District3.6%

VA11.2%

U.S.12.0%

16.5%Students receiving IDEA special-education services626 students · 6 of 6 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District16.5%

VA13.3%

U.S.14.0%

2.5%Students with Section 504 plans96 students · 6 of 6 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District2.5%

VA3.2%

U.S.3.9%

0.5%English learners also receiving IDEA services19 students · 6 of 6 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District0.5%

VA1.7%

U.S.1.7%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.

Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22

What did the district report about teachers and preschool?

95.5%Teachers reported as certified

82Children ages 3–5 in district preschool

Teacher certification comparison

District95.5%

VA93.1%

United States95.8%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.

Community context · 2024

How many school-age children live in poverty?

This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.

3,618children ages 5 to 17

422estimated to live in families below the poverty line

11.7%about 1 in 9 school-age children

District11.7%

VA11.0%

United States14.4%

U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.

Comparable districts

Districts of a similar size in VA

These are the five closest state peers by enrollment. Open any profile to compare academics, attendance, spending and student support.

Wythe County Public SchoolsMax Meadows, VA3,829 students13 schools · View profile →Amherst County Public SchoolsMadison Heights, VA3,970 students9 schools · View profile →Mecklenburg County Public SchoolsSkipwith, VA3,599 students11 schools · View profile →Pulaski County Public SchoolsPulaski, VA4,039 students8 schools · View profile →Smyth County Public SchoolsAtkins, VA4,050 students14 schools · View profile →

District makeup

What kinds of schools are in the district?

1Middle schools

4Elementary schools

1High schools

6Suburb setting

School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.

District finances

How is the district funded, and how does it spend?

Sources of funds

Where the money comes from

Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.

11.2%Federal

49%State

39.8%Local

Uses of funds

Where the money goes

Annual spending for each enrolled student.

$14,892Total current spending per student

$9,371Instruction per student

$4,884Support services per student

Revenue by source: percentages and dollars

$6.6MFederal revenue11.2% of total revenue

$28.9MState revenue49% of total revenue

$23.5MLocal revenue39.8% of total revenue

How operating money was used

$9,371Instructionper student

$4,884Student and instructional supportper student

$1,973Special educationper student

$1,425Building operations and maintenanceper student

$605Student transportationper student

$637Food servicesper student

$655Technologyper student

People costs

$34.3MSalaries$9,153 per student

$12.5MEmployee benefits$3,342 per student

Equipment, buildings and debt

$559KEquipmentFY 2023

$8MCapital outlay$2,130 per student

$7.4MConstructionincluded in capital outlay

$14.4MDebt outstanding at year end$3,835 per student

$0New debt issuedFY 2023

$1KDebt principal retiredFY 2023

$0Interest paid on debtFY 2023

Selected federal program revenue

$616KTitle I$164 per student

$1.1MIDEA special education$283 per student

$57KCareer and technical education$15 per student

$1.5MChild nutrition$407 per student

What changed since FY 2022

Operating spending per student

FY 2022$13,711

FY 2023$14,892

Capital spending per student

FY 2022$2,914

FY 2023$2,130

Debt outstanding per student

FY 2022$3,786

FY 2023$3,835

Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.

Attendance

How has chronic absence changed?

2020–219.1%

341 of 3,751 students

2021–2218.6%

692 of 3,717 students

2022–2316.4%

600 of 3,668 students

Specialized support and security · 2021–22

What specialized roles were reported?

6Sworn law-enforcement officer FTE6 reporting schools

1Security staff FTE6 reporting schools

Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.

Learning opportunities

What do district schools offer?

Algebra I1 reporting schools

Calculus1 reporting schools

Biology1 reporting schools

Chemistry1 reporting schools

Physics1 reporting schools

Computer science1 reporting schools

Advanced Placement1 reporting schools

Dual enrollment1 reporting schools

Gifted programs6 reporting schools

International Baccalaureate1 reporting schools

Athletics1 reporting schools

Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.

Safety and discipline

What was reported across district schools?

189Out-of-school suspensions6 reporting schoolsSee schools →353In-school suspensions6 reporting schoolsSee schools →22Law-enforcement referrals6 reporting schoolsSee schools →0School-related arrests6 reporting schoolsSee schools →2Physical restraint1 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.

Technology and safety · 2021–22

What access and incident data is available?

100%Schools reporting Wi-Fi6 reporting schools

100%Schools reporting fiber6 reporting schools

0Student devices reported6 reporting schools

1Weapon-possession reports6 reporting schoolsSee schools →5Threats involving a weapon6 reporting schoolsSee schools →6Threats without a weapon6 reporting schoolsSee schools →1Attacks involving a weapon6 reporting schoolsSee schools →18Attacks without a weapon6 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Firearm incidents6 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Robberies without a weapon6 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Robberies involving a weapon6 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Homicide incidents6 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.

Six questions parents ask

What the available data says

Each answer shows its reporting year and opens a deeper comparison. Missing and suppressed results are never shown as zero.

Are students making academic progress?4 years of resultsLatest research estimate: 2024Explore and compare →Are students missing too much school?16.4% chronically absent2022–23 · 3,668 students measuredExplore and compare →Is the district improving?Declined overallCompare the earliest and latest available yearsExplore and compare →Where are student-group gaps largest?No comparable group resultSuppressed or unavailableExplore and compare →How much does the district spend?$14,892current spending per studentExplore and compare →Does the district have enough support staff?332:1 counselor ratioStudents per counselor in the 2023–24 federal staffing fileExplore and compare →

Data status

8 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.

See all sources →