Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Salem Upper Elementary

Q: Is Salem Upper Elementary a good school?

Salem Upper Elementary ranks 655 th of 900 Missouri elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 2-5

655^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 900 Missouri Elementary Schools

Better than 27% of Missouri elementary schools

Summary

Salem Upper Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades 2-5 in Salem, Missouri, with 342 students and a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. The school is part of the Salem R-80 school district, which is ranked 205 out of 367 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Salem Upper Elementary has some positive attributes, such as a relatively low student-teacher ratio, the school faces several significant challenges. It has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 16.7% to 29.9% over the past few years, which is much higher than the state average and the rates of nearby schools like Dent-Phelps Elementary (14.8%) and Green Forest Elementary (11.1%). Additionally, the school's test scores on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) are generally below the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas, with only 25.9% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 41.8%.

Another area of concern is the school's high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 56.83% to 100% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the rates of nearby schools like North Wood Elementary (63.22%) and Green Forest Elementary (55.62%). The school's performance on state assessments also varies significantly by student subgroup, with the school struggling with special education and disabled student populations, ranking in the bottom 10% of Missouri elementary schools in these categories.

335

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,371

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1601 S Doss Rd
Salem, MO 65560-1147

(573) 729-6642

District: Salem R-80

Students who attend Salem Upper Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Salem Middle School
High:	Salem Senior High

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.9%

Two or more races:

6.3%

Hispanic:

5.1%

See top rated Missouri elementary schools

Compare Salem Upper Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 49th percentile in 2015 → 27th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Missouri average (30% vs 42% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 22 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school30%

District avg30%

Missouri avg42%

655^th of 900

Missouri public elementary schools ?

Bottom 27%▼ down 21 pts since 2015

From bottom 49% (2015) to bottom 27% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Missouri Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

205^th of 367Salem R-80 among Missouri 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	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	30.5	655 of 900	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	48.6	466 of 906	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.3	452 of 898	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.9	487 of 908	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.6	560 of 901	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.6	697 of 1052	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.7	600 of 1045	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	42.8	622 of 1032	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	37.5	593 of 865	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	51.2	544 of 1058	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	67.4	308 of 1089	71.7%	★★★★☆
2013	59.6	445 of 1108	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	54.9	530 of 1085	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	45.5	669 of 1088	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	50.9	569 of 1066	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	44.0	667 of 1053	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	42.8	704 of 1084	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	55.2	468 of 1080	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	58.0	418 of 1074	61.1%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2022	24.3	93 of 103	9.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.6	68 of 81	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.8	239 of 302	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	60.6	202 of 638	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	78.4	71 of 625	88.6%	★★★★☆
2023	78.9	61 of 611	90.0%	★★★★★
2022	66.4	109 of 532	79.5%	★★★★☆
2021	72.0	90 of 574	84.3%	★★★★☆
2019	60.5	291 of 907	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.1	213 of 887	76.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2023	39.6	65 of 107	39.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	15.2	603 of 666	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	33.8	460 of 668	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.9	454 of 673	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.3	475 of 675	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.5	539 of 691	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.2	771 of 917	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.9	649 of 898	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)68th percentile+41 vs school

Special Education (2023)39th percentile-10 vs school

Disabled (2022)10th percentile-37 vs school

White (2025)9th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Missouri (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics31%-10 vs state

Science31%-11 vs state

English Language Arts29%-14 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Salem Upper Elementary and help other families decide.

Rate Salem Upper Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Salem Upper Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MAP Mathematics (2025)						MAP Science (2025)	MAP English Language Arts (2025)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MAP Science 5th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Salem Upper Elementary	Public	2-5	1601 S Doss Rd	Salem	65560	Dent County	Salem R-80	No	No	No	Yes	(573) 729-6642	335	26	13.0	100.0%	291 (86.9%)	2 (0.6%)	17 (5.1%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.3%)	30.5	655^th of 900 public elementary schools	27.2%		48.6	466^th of 906 public elementary schools	48.6%	189	32.0	34.4	27.3				30.9	25.9	28.6	33.2	$9,371	$429	$8,942
Wm. H. Lynch Elementary	Public	PK, KG-1	101 N Main St	Salem	65560	Dent County	Salem R-80	No	No	No	Yes	(573) 729-6642	257	17	14.7	100.0%	227 (88.3%)	2 (0.8%)	12 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	1 (0.4%)	12 (4.7%)								(n/a)											$14,144	$997	$13,147
North Wood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	3734 N. Hwy 19	Salem	65560	Dent County	North Wood R-IV	No	No	No	Yes	(573) 729-4607	155	15	10.3	63.9%	140 (90.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	16.6	761^st of 900 public elementary schools	15.4%		26.2	685^th of 906 public elementary schools	24.4%	76		30.0	8.8		84.1		21.8				$12,740	$764	$11,976
Oak Hill Elementary	Public	K-8	6200 S Hwy 19	Salem	65560	Dent County	Oak Hill R-I	No	No	No	Yes	(573) 729-5618	149	13	11.9	64.4%	146 (98.0%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	21.8	722^nd of 900 public elementary schools	19.8%					(n/a)	24.0	26.7		31.3				28.0	20.1		$10,222	$1,356	$8,866
Green Forest Elementary	Public	K-8	6111 Hwy F	Salem	65560	Dent County	Green Forest R-II	No	No	No	Yes	(573) 729-3902	152	15	10.4	61.2%	149 (98.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	96.2	21^st of 900 public elementary schools	97.7%		99.2	3^rd of 906 public elementary schools	99.7%	18		76.3	70.5			28.6	70.5	85.6	76.4		$12,280	$319	$11,961
Dent-Phelps Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	27870 Hwy C	Salem	65560	Dent County	Dent-Phelps R-III	No	No	No	Yes	(573) 729-4680	256	23	10.9	50.0%	245 (95.7%)	2 (0.8%)	4 (1.6%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	30.8			56.2							$11,839	$1,118	$10,721

Frequently Asked Questions about Salem Upper Elementary

What district is Salem Upper Elementary in?

Salem R-80

Is Salem Upper Elementary a good school?

Salem Upper Elementary ranks 655^th of 900 Missouri elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Salem Upper Elementary attend?

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

Middle : Salem Middle School
High : Salem Senior High

How many students attend Salem Upper Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 335 students attended Salem Upper Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Salem Upper Elementary?

Students at Salem Upper Elementary are 87% White, 6% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic.

Rate Salem Upper Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MOMissouri Elementary School Rankings

MOMissouri District Rankings

Schools in Salem, MO

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Salem Upper Elementary!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Missouri Department 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.