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Salem Elementary School

Q: Is Salem Elementary School a good school?

Salem Elementary School ranks 293 rd of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

293^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 71% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Salem Elementary School is a large PK–6 school in Murfreesboro, TN, serving 946 students as part of Murfreesboro City Schools. While the district overall ranks near the 30th percentile statewide, Salem is a clear bright spot—it ranks 293rd of 1,019 Tennessee elementary schools, placing it in the 71st percentile with a 4-star rating. The school has been consistently solid over the past five reporting cycles, with statewide percentile rankings of 69, 76, 72, 70, and 71, a clear post-pandemic improvement from 51st percentile in 2020-21.

Academically, Salem beats both its district and the state in the core tested subjects. Math proficiency is 57.5% (district: 47.8%, state: 43.0%), ELA is 48.9% (district: 39.9%, state: 40.6%), and science is 52.4% (district: 43.1%, state: 46.9%). It substantially outperforms nearby same-district schools including Cason Lane Academy, Black Fox Elementary, Bradley Academy, and Scales Elementary, with math proficiency roughly 20 points higher than those schools. Among Rutherford County Schools, Salem is competitive with Barfield Elementary and ahead of Blackman Elementary, while trailing Rockvale Elementary. The school also posts a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 9.2%—about half the statewide rate of 18.3%—and spends a moderate $12,354 per student, less than lower-performing schools like Bradley Academy ($16,907) and Cason Lane Academy ($14,292). Salem also earns strong marks for African American student performance, ranking in the 78th to 81st percentile statewide in recent years.

However, there are clear challenges. Social studies proficiency is just 34.5% versus the state average of 51.4%. Grade-level results show strong early-elementary performance followed by a middle-grades decline: science drops from 59.2% in 3rd grade to 31.0% in 6th grade, and ELA falls sharply between 4th and 5th grade. Subgroup results are uneven, with English learners (25th percentile), low-income students (33rd percentile), and special education students (32nd percentile) lagging well behind the school's overall average. If Salem addresses its social studies gap, reverses the upper-grade decline, and provides more targeted support for high-need subgroups, it has strong potential to climb from the 71st percentile into the upper echelon of Tennessee elementary schools.

946

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,354

Per pupil spending ?

32%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3275 St. Bernard Drive
Murfreesboro, TN 37128

(615) 893-2313

District: Murfreesboro City Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

54.5%

African American:

18.8%

Hispanic:

11.2%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Salem Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 76th percentile in 2023 → 71st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Tennessee average (53% vs 45% meeting standards)

✓Above the Tennessee median (71st percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 76th-percentile peak (2023) to 71st (2026)

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

!Social Studies scores 17 pts below the Tennessee average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg43%

Tennessee avg45%

293^rd of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Top 29%▲ up 20 pts since 2021

From top 49% (2021) to top 29% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 13Elementary Schools in the Murfreesboro City Schools

99^th of 141Murfreesboro City Schools among Tennessee 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	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	66.7	293 of 1019	71.2%	★★★★☆
2025	64.8	304 of 1009	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.5	290 of 1018	71.5%	★★★★☆
2023	68.6	246 of 1020	75.9%	★★★★☆
2022	61.5	313 of 1000	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.4	481 of 983	51.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	72.0	110 of 498	77.9%	★★★★☆
2025	73.3	97 of 498	80.5%	★★★★☆
2024	63.8	139 of 498	72.1%	★★★★☆
2023	82.2	58 of 500	88.4%	★★★★☆
2022	67.1	102 of 483	78.9%	★★★★☆
2021	56.6	124 of 411	69.8%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	32.3	49 of 65	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.7	43 of 55	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.1	45 of 55	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.9	47 of 57	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.8	45 of 55	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	32.8	159 of 211	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.8	154 of 178	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	67.1	257 of 986	73.9%	★★★★☆
2024	62.3	307 of 990	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.8	226 of 989	77.1%	★★★★☆
2022	59.8	324 of 975	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.7	419 of 945	55.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	61.4	145 of 458	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.7	136 of 424	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	73.9	86 of 415	79.3%	★★★★☆
2023	90.6	33 of 387	91.5%	★★★★★
2022	54.8	130 of 363	64.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	37.5	555 of 823	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.5	572 of 843	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.6	259 of 853	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.4	161 of 865	81.4%	★★★★☆
2022	52.7	354 of 858	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	29.6	603 of 823	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	60.3	329 of 984	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.8	282 of 991	71.5%	★★★★☆
2023	64.0	281 of 987	71.5%	★★★★☆
2022	59.6	308 of 980	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.9	502 of 941	46.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	32.3	437 of 641	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.2	332 of 618	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.4	213 of 582	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.8	305 of 528	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.5	377 of 447	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.8	302 of 369	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	64.6	239 of 849	71.8%	★★★★☆
2025	59.9	279 of 840	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.3	241 of 847	71.5%	★★★★☆
2023	62.2	243 of 852	71.5%	★★★★☆
2022	62.7	248 of 844	70.6%	★★★★☆
2021	50.8	349 of 844	58.6%	★★★☆☆

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)

African American (2026)78th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2025)74th percentile+4 vs school

White (2026)72nd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)68th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)67th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)33rd percentile-39 vs school

Special Education (2026)32nd percentile-39 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)25th percentile-45 vs school

Asian (2026)25th percentile-47 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics57%+14 vs state

Science52%+6 vs state

English Language Arts49%+8 vs state

Social Studies34%-17 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, April 26, 2021

This school has a STEM focus. Lots of thinking out of the box and hands on learning. The principal, teacher and staff are all incredible. They love what they are doing and it shows. We chose not to sell our house as planned to keep our children in this school. The PTO is fantastic and parental involvement is good. We are proud to be Salem Saints! Close Quote

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)				TNReady Mathematics (2026)					TNReady English Language Arts (2026)					TNReady Science (2026)					TNReady Social Studies (2026)		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 (2020)	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	TNReady Mathematics 3rd Grade	TNReady Mathematics 4th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Salem Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3275 St. Bernard Drive	Murfreesboro	37128	Rutherford County	Murfreesboro City Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 893-2313	965	60	16.1	32.0%	534 (55.3%)	186 (19.3%)	108 (11.2%)	53 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (8.7%)	66.7	293^rd of 1019 public elementary schools	71.2%		64.8	304^th of 1009 public elementary schools	69.9%	11	60.5	60.1	50.4	58.6	57.5	55.3	53.4	37.7	41.4	48.9	59.2	57.1	43.5	31.0	52.4	34.5	34.5	$12,354	$372	$11,319
Scales Elementary School	Public	K-5	2340 St. Andrews Drive	Murfreesboro	37128	Rutherford County	Murfreesboro City Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 895-5279	963	67	14.4	37.2%	426 (44.2%)	224 (23.3%)	188 (19.5%)	40 (4.2%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	82 (8.5%)	44	583^rd of 1019 public elementary schools	42.8%		37.5	634^th of 1009 public elementary schools	37.2%	51	39.6	46.6	40.9		42.4	35.4	43.2	34.3		37.8	40.3	49.0	40.9		43.5			$12,976	$386	$11,918
Cason Lane Academy	Public	PK, KG-6	1330 Cason Lane	Murfreesboro	37128	Rutherford County	Murfreesboro City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 898-7145	869	57	15.1		329 (37.9%)	253 (29.1%)	149 (17.1%)	32 (3.7%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	101 (11.6%)	27	786^th of 1019 public elementary schools	22.9%		33.1	703^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	30.3%	83	32.4	35.0	53.0	12.8	36.0	26.1	31.1	28.9	25.6	28.3	27.9	34.0	38.6	10.3	30.4	25.6	25.6	$14,292	$474	$12,723
Rockvale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6550 Hwy 99	Rockvale	37153	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-3881	983	61	16.0	20.3%	721 (73.3%)	83 (8.4%)	120 (12.2%)	15 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	43 (4.4%)	81.6	141^st of 1019 public elementary schools	86.2%		80.8	151^st of 1009 public elementary schools	85.0%	10	53.8	68.2	63.4		62.0	51.2	67.0	59.6		59.4	58.0	63.6	66.3		62.9			$12,104	$436	$11,074
Barfield Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	350 Veterans Parkway	Murfreesboro	37128	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-3810	965	61	15.8	28.5%	514 (53.3%)	186 (19.3%)	145 (15.0%)	36 (3.7%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	82 (8.5%)	74.1	203^rd of 1019 public elementary schools	80.1%		73.8	207^th of 1009 public elementary schools	79.5%	4	52.1	62.0	63.0		58.8	56.4	52.1	50.0		52.9	56.4	54.2	60.7		57.2			$12,306	$451	$11,302
Overall Creek Elementary School	Public	K-5	429 Otter Trail	Murfreesboro	37128	Rutherford County	Murfreesboro City Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 624-5500	993	63	15.6	14.4%	584 (58.8%)	145 (14.6%)	106 (10.7%)	69 (6.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	88 (8.9%)	76.1	187^th of 1019 public elementary schools	81.6%		77	177^th of 1009 public elementary schools	82.5%	10	52.0	68.6	73.1		64.9	44.9	57.4	57.7		53.6	43.9	64.5	64.7		58.1			$12,380	$366	$11,192
Blackman Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	586 Fortress Boulevard	Murfreesboro	37128	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-3795	1,068	65	16.4	28.0%	461 (43.2%)	253 (23.7%)	181 (16.9%)	93 (8.7%)	4 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	74 (6.9%)	62	347^th of 1019 public elementary schools	65.9%		58.4	374^th of 1009 public elementary schools	62.9%	27	53.2	49.1	46.0		49.2	45.0	49.4	47.5		47.4	55.3	50.3	54.5		53.3			$13,205	$329	$12,245
Discovery School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	1165 Middle Tennessee Boulevar	Murfreesboro	37130	Rutherford County	Murfreesboro City Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(615) 895-4973	391	22	17.9	6.6%	308 (78.8%)	32 (8.2%)	12 (3.1%)	14 (3.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.1%)	99.4	3^rd of 1019 public elementary schools	99.7%		99.4	1^st of 1009 public elementary schools	99.9%	2	93.3	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	80.0	≥ 95%	90.0	≥ 95%	92.2	90.0	93.4	91.7	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	70.0	94.4	90.0	90.0	$13,119	$327	$11,955
McFadden School Of Excellence	Public, Magnet	K-5	221 Bridge Avenue	Murfreesboro	37129	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(615) 893-7251	389	21	18.5	4.6%	298 (76.6%)	31 (8.0%)	6 (1.5%)	32 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	21 (5.4%)								(n/a)	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%		≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%		≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%		≥ 95%			$12,600	$297	$11,286
Bradley Academy - An Arts Integrated School	Public	K-6	511 Doctor Martin Luther King	Murfreesboro	37130	Rutherford County	Murfreesboro City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 895-2672	342	30	11.4		51 (14.9%)	135 (39.5%)	132 (38.6%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	21 (6.1%)	36.5	678^th of 1019 public elementary schools	33.5%		41.7	589^th of 1009 public elementary schools	41.6%	89	37.3	32.6	43.9	40.0	38.7	35.3	34.8	30.4	30.0	32.6	33.3	32.6	35.1	37.5	34.5	52.5	52.5	$16,907	$880	$15,010

Frequently Asked Questions about Salem Elementary School

Is Salem Elementary School a good school?

Salem Elementary School ranks 293^rd of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Salem Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 946 students attended Salem Elementary School.

What district is Salem Elementary School in?

Murfreesboro City Schools

What is the racial makeup of Salem Elementary School?

Students at Salem Elementary School are 55% White, 19% African American, 11% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 5% Asian.

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresAug 25, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

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