Summary:
The Salem School District in zip code 72576 serves 810 students across two schools: Salem Elementary School (grades K-6) and Salem High School (grades 7-12). Located in Salem, Arkansas, the district is ranked 53rd out of 251 districts in the state, earning a 4-star rating.
Salem Elementary School is the standout performer in this area, consistently exceeding state averages by wide margins. In the 2025-2026 school year, its math proficiency rate of 70.3% and science rate of 64% were 26 and 20 points above the state average, respectively—an impressive feat given that 66% of its students are economically disadvantaged. The 5th grade class is particularly exceptional, with 85.7% proficiency in math and 84.1% in science. The school has also shown strong year-over-year improvement, with proficiency rates jumping by 13-19 percentage points across all subjects. In contrast, Salem High School has lower overall proficiency rates, but it excels in advanced coursework. Its algebra proficiency of 53.6% and biology proficiency of 58.6% are 16-17 points above state averages, and its extremely low student-to-teacher ratio of 5.3:1 contributes to a dropout rate of just 0.2%.
A key takeaway is the performance dip in 7th and 8th grades at the high school, where students score well below state averages in English, reading, and science. However, performance dramatically improves by 9th and 10th grade, particularly in advanced subjects. The elementary school’s ratio of 15.6:1 is more typical, yet it achieves superior results, indicating highly effective teaching. Overall, families in this area benefit from a district that offers both a top-tier elementary experience and a high school that provides personalized attention and strong outcomes in specialized subjects.
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