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Salem Elementary School

Q: Is Salem Elementary School a good school?

Salem Elementary School ranks 57 th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

57^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 88% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Salem Elementary School in Salem, AR, serves 434 students in grades K-6 and is part of the highly-rated Salem School District, which ranks in the top 25% of districts in Arkansas.

Salem Elementary stands out for its exceptional and consistent performance in Mathematics, with 70.3% of students proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—a remarkable 26 percentage points above the state average. This math proficiency is significantly higher than nearby schools like Melbourne Elementary School (66.4%) and Viola Elementary School (56.9%). The school also demonstrates strong Science performance, with a 64% proficiency rate that is 20 points above the state average and higher than all nearby schools except Melbourne. What makes these achievements even more impressive is the school's remarkable cost-effectiveness: Salem spends just $10,157 per student, which is thousands less than peers like Mammoth Spring Elementary School ($14,996) and Izard County Consolidated Elementary School ($16,602), while still delivering top-tier academic outcomes.

Salem Elementary is currently on a strong upward trajectory, with a recent resurgence that saw its state ranking jump from 141st to 57th in one year. The school's 5th-grade students are performing at an exceptionally high level across all subjects, with 85.7% proficiency in Math and 84.1% in Science—roughly 30-40 points above state averages. This success is particularly noteworthy given that 66-68% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, a rate similar to Viola Elementary (75.65%), yet Salem's academic results far exceed expectations. The school's ability to achieve superior outcomes while spending less and serving a moderately high-poverty population makes it a standout choice for families in the region.

434

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,157

Per pupil spending ?

66.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

313 Hwy 62 E
Salem, AR 72576

(870) 895-2456

District: Salem School District

Students who attend Salem Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Salem High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.7%

Two or more races:

3.5%

Hispanic:

1.4%

See top rated Arkansas elementary schools

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 72nd percentile in 2025 → 88th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arkansas average (62% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 12% of Arkansas elementary schools

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 88th (2026) from a 72nd-percentile low (2025)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school62%

District avg51%

Arkansas avg42%

57^th of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Top 12%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From top 2% (2016) to top 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

53^rd of 251Salem School District among Arkansas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	83.9	57 of 491	88.4%	★★★★☆
2025	70.0	141 of 495	71.5%	★★★★☆
2024	79.1	85 of 497	82.9%	★★★★☆
2023	74.9	118 of 492	76.0%	★★★★☆
2022	72.4	119 of 487	75.6%	★★★★☆
2021	82.8	61 of 496	87.7%	★★★★☆
2019	85.3	46 of 488	90.6%	★★★★★
2018	87.9	40 of 480	91.7%	★★★★★
2017	92.3	14 of 485	97.1%	★★★★★
2016	92.7	12 of 494	97.6%	★★★★★
2015	95.8	9 of 466	98.1%	★★★★★
2014	90.8	10 of 471	97.9%	★★★★★
2013	87.8	13 of 476	97.3%	★★★★★
2012	85.4	20 of 468	95.7%	★★★★★
2011	84.5	31 of 471	93.4%	★★★★★
2010	84.7	32 of 457	93.0%	★★★★★
2009	88.3	16 of 445	96.4%	★★★★★
2008	81.9	47 of 439	89.3%	★★★★☆
2007	85.2	27 of 440	93.9%	★★★★★
2006	86.9	24 of 402	94.0%	★★★★★
2005	94.4	5 of 411	98.8%	★★★★★

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics70%+26 vs state

Science64%+20 vs state

Reading56%+16 vs state

English Language Arts56%+16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Salem Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2026)					ATLAS Reading (2026)					ATLAS Mathematics (2026)					ATLAS Science (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ATLAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 3rd Grade	ATLAS Reading 4th Grade	ATLAS Reading 5th Grade	ATLAS Reading 6th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 4th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 5th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 6th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Science 3rd Grade	ATLAS Science 4th Grade	ATLAS Science 5th Grade	ATLAS Science 6th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Salem Elementary School	Public	K-6	313 Hwy 62 E	Salem	72576	Fulton County	Salem School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 895-2456	434	28	15.6	66.1%	411 (94.7%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.5%)	83.9	57^th of 491 public elementary schools	88.4%		70	141^st of 495 public elementary schools	71.5%	84	46.6	53.8	71.4	50.8	55.9	46.5	53.8	73.0	50.8	56.4	67.3	55.8	85.7	69.8	70.3	62.0	44.3	84.1	61.9	64.0	$10,157	$1,110	$9,047
Viola Elementary School	Public	K-6	314 Longhorn Drive	Viola	72583	Fulton County	Viola School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 458-2511	193	18	10.5	75.6%	191 (99.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	79.4	83^rd of 491 public elementary schools	83.1%		78.8	92^nd of 495 public elementary schools	81.4%	9	51.5	61.8	67.9	61.9	60.4	51.5	55.9	67.9	57.2	57.7	30.3	79.4	53.6	66.6	56.9	57.6	76.5	46.4	33.3	56.0	$15,423	$2,799	$12,623
Izard County Consolidated Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	5555 East Ar 56	Violet Hill	72584	Izard County	Izard County Consolidated School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 322-7229	286	19	15.2	99.0%	264 (92.3%)	3 (1.0%)	11 (3.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (2.1%)	46.6	274^th of 491 public elementary schools	44.2%		41	304^th of 495 public elementary schools	38.6%	30	30.0	35.7			32.9	30.0	33.3			31.7	40.0	64.3			52.5	47.5	47.6			47.5	$16,602	$2,580	$14,022
Cherokee Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	169 Rebel Dr	Hardy	72542	Sharp County	Highland School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 257-3118	581	44	13.1		550 (94.7%)	11 (1.9%)	7 (1.2%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.5%)	78.9	86^th of 491 public elementary schools	82.5%		76.6	100^th of 495 public elementary schools	79.8%	14	53.8	49.5			51.3	57.6	52.3			54.5	56.3	61.4			59.2	58.8	55.0			56.6	$13,122	$2,061	$11,061
Mammoth Spring Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	410 Goldsmith Ave	Mammoth Spring	72554	Fulton County	Mammoth Spring School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 625-7213	274	22	12.5	100.0%	266 (97.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.8%)	65.9	168^th of 491 public elementary schools	65.8%		58.4	210^th of 495 public elementary schools	57.6%	42	53.9	59.1	33.4	53.2	47.6	57.7	63.7	35.7	53.2	50.0	61.5	40.9	40.5	58.0	49.6	57.7	54.6	40.5	42.0	47.1	$14,996	$2,006	$12,990
Melbourne Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	200 Bearkat Drive	Melbourne	72556	Izard County	Melbourne School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 368-4365	458	36	12.7	51.7%	437 (95.4%)	2 (0.4%)	9 (2.0%)	3 (0.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	87.4	39^th of 491 public elementary schools	92.1%		83.5	65^th of 495 public elementary schools	86.9%	26	50.0	51.1	60.4	78.0	60.1	54.0	48.9	64.6	72.0	60.2	64.0	46.7	68.8	84.0	66.4	66.0	60.0	68.8	82.0	69.4	$13,356	$2,274	$11,083

Frequently Asked Questions about Salem Elementary School

What district is Salem Elementary School in?

Salem School District

What is the racial makeup of Salem Elementary School?

Students at Salem Elementary School are 95% White, 3% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

Is Salem Elementary School a good school?

Salem Elementary School ranks 57^th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Salem Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Salem Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Salem High School

How many students attend Salem Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 434 students attended Salem Elementary School.

Rate Salem Elementary School!

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ARArkansas District Rankings

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Latest Arkansas data All new data »

2025–26 ATLAS test scoresJul 13, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2019–20 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 dropout ratesJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.