Summary:
Zip code 30038 in Lithonia, Georgia, is served by a single middle school option: Salem Middle School, which enrolls 827 students across grades 6-8 within the DeKalb County school district.
Salem Middle School faces significant academic challenges, with proficiency rates in math, science, and social studies falling well below both district and state averages. In math, proficiency ranges from just 4.6% in 7th grade to 14.4% in 8th grade, compared to state averages between 40.7% and 46.3%. Science proficiency sits at 10.5% versus 29.7% statewide, and social studies proficiency is 7.3% compared to 40.2% statewide. The school currently ranks in the bottom 5% of Georgia middle schools with a 0-star rating, though its ranking has improved slightly from the 11th percentile in 2023-2024. Notably, the school serves a 100% free/reduced lunch population, and chronic absenteeism affects 27.4% of students—well above the state rate of 17.7%. Despite these challenges, the school maintains a favorable 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio and spends $20,629 per student, which is relatively high.
There are some encouraging signs. English Language Arts proficiency rates from the 2024-2025 school year (13.9% in 6th grade, 11.8% in 7th grade, and 14.5% in 8th grade) are notably higher than the school's math scores, suggesting literacy may be a relative strength. Additionally, math proficiency improved slightly in 6th grade (from 6.9% to 7.4%) and 8th grade (from 12.4% to 14.4%) year-over-year, though 7th grade saw a concerning decline from 7.9% to 4.6%. For parents considering this school, it's important to understand that while resources and class sizes are favorable, the school is working against significant socioeconomic and attendance hurdles that contribute to its low academic performance.
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