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G.W. Carver Elementary

Q: Is G.W. Carver Elementary a good school?

G.W. Carver Elementary ranks 190 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

190^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 83% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

G.W. Carver Elementary is a PK-5 school in Salem, VA, serving 404 students in the Salem City Public Schools district, where 88.37% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. The school earned a 4-star rating and ranks 190th out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools for 2025-2026 — an 83rd-percentile result that places it in the top quarter of the state, a remarkable achievement given its high-poverty population.

Carver outperforms both its district and the state in nearly every SOL subject. In 5th grade math, 90.41% of Carver students passed, versus 75.65% for the district and 72.39% statewide. Reading (87.67%), science (82.19%), and 3rd grade math (89.47%) tell a similar story. The school is especially effective with students who are often underserved: low-socioeconomic-status students rank 47th of 1,040 statewide (95th percentile), and African American students rank 66th of 591 (89th percentile). Chronic absenteeism has dropped from 21.0% in 2021-2022 to 11.0% in 2024-2025, nearly matching the district rate. Its per-student spending of $11,206 is moderate, suggesting strong results aren't driven by extra resources.

These results are especially striking next to nearby schools. East Salem Elementary, just 1.67 miles away with nearly identical poverty (88.10% FRPL), ranks 569th and trails Carver by 20-25 percentage points in several subjects despite spending more per student. Carver also outperforms West Salem Elementary (342nd) and South Salem Elementary (246th), which serve far fewer low-income students. Among Roanoke City schools, Fairview Elementary (1042nd) and Westside Elementary (1091st) have similar or higher poverty but dramatically lower proficiency. Carver's broad-based strength, strong subgroup outcomes, and steady climb from 29th percentile in 2016-2017 to 83rd in 2025-2026 make it one of the most effective elementary schools in the Salem-Roanoke area.

404

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,049

Per pupil spending ?

88.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6 Fourth St
Salem, VA 24153-5079

(540) 387-2492

District: Salem City Public Schools

Students who attend G.W. Carver Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Andrew Lewis Middle
High:	Salem High

Racial breakdown:

White:

57.9%

African American:

23.8%

Hispanic:

11.6%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare G.W. Carver Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 56th percentile in 2016 → 83rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (85% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 17% of Virginia elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 27 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school85%

District avg75%

Virginia avg72%

190^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 17%▲ up 27 pts since 2016

From top 44% (2016) to top 17% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 4Elementary Schools in the Salem City Public Schools

30^th of 131Salem City Public Schools among Virginia 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	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	80.9	190 of 1111	82.9%	★★★★☆
2025	72.1	325 of 1110	70.7%	★★★★☆
2024	82.7	159 of 1114	85.7%	★★★★☆
2023	56.3	533 of 1114	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.2	450 of 1109	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.5	617 of 1103	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.5	520 of 1105	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.1	488 of 1097	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	38.9	785 of 1099	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	58.7	479 of 1096	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	69.6	303 of 1100	72.5%	★★★★☆
2014	62.8	398 of 1110	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	67.4	348 of 1120	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	68.1	308 of 1117	72.4%	★★★★☆
2011	80.9	106 of 1117	90.5%	★★★★★
2010	69.1	290 of 1113	73.9%	★★★★☆
2009	82.4	65 of 1082	94.0%	★★★★★
2008	73.9	207 of 1081	80.9%	★★★★☆
2007	68.9	298 of 1083	72.5%	★★★★☆
2006	79.8	115 of 1071	89.3%	★★★★☆
2005	64.6	360 of 1062	66.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	82.4	66 of 591	88.8%	★★★★☆
2025	72.8	130 of 579	77.5%	★★★★☆
2024	85.5	49 of 588	91.7%	★★★★★
2023	46.4	349 of 579	39.7%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	85.3	19 of 355	94.6%	★★★★★
2023	64.0	108 of 324	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	82.3	151 of 1100	86.3%	★★★★☆
2025	72.0	305 of 1096	72.2%	★★★★☆
2024	80.6	173 of 1098	84.2%	★★★★☆
2023	59.5	467 of 1100	57.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	62.2	221 of 619	64.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	88.7	47 of 1040	95.5%	★★★★★
2025	81.6	118 of 1046	88.7%	★★★★☆
2024	83.9	78 of 1036	92.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	74.9	257 of 1099	76.6%	★★★★☆
2025	66.6	374 of 1093	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	78.0	221 of 1101	79.9%	★★★★☆
2023	49.9	590 of 1093	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	77.7	154 of 974	84.2%	★★★★☆
2025	73.3	225 of 973	76.9%	★★★★☆
2024	82.6	83 of 979	91.5%	★★★★★
2023	65.3	335 of 984	66.0%	★★★☆☆

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 (2026)95th percentile+13 vs school

Disabled (2024)95th percentile+9 vs school

African American (2026)89th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)86th percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)84th percentile~ school

Male (2026)77th percentile-6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)64th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics87%+14 vs state

VA Studies84%+14 vs state

English Reading84%+13 vs state

Science82%+13 vs state

★

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Schools Near G.W. Carver Elementary

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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)				SOL Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)			SOL VA 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 (2025)	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	SOL Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
G.W. Carver Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6 Fourth St	Salem	24153	Salem city	Salem City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 387-2492	404	29	13.8	88.4%	234 (57.9%)	96 (23.8%)	47 (11.6%)	7 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (4.7%)	80.9	190^th of 1111 public elementary schools	82.9%		72.1	325^th of 1110 public elementary schools	70.7%	135	89.5	82.3	90.4	82.2	81.1	83.3	87.7	84.4	$11,049	$985	$10,064
West Salem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	520 N Bruffey St	Salem	24153	Salem city	Salem City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 387-2503	375	27	13.7	35.5%	296 (78.9%)	24 (6.4%)	26 (6.9%)	12 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.5%)	70.7	342^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	69.2%		72.2	323^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	70.9%	19	87.3	87.0	77.2	64.9	72.7	87.0	75.4	87.9	$11,080	$196	$10,883
South Salem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1600 Carolyn Rd	Salem	24153	Salem city	Salem City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 387-2478	371	36	10.1	40.2%	282 (76.0%)	30 (8.1%)	36 (9.7%)	8 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.0%)	77.2	246^th of 1111 public elementary schools	77.9%		77.6	251^st of 1110 public elementary schools	77.4%	5	87.5	90.2	75.0	76.8	80.4	90.2	80.4	84.5	$11,167	$441	$10,726
East Salem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1765 Boulevard	Salem	24153	Salem city	Salem City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 375-7001	378	30	12.8	88.1%	163 (43.1%)	76 (20.1%)	94 (24.9%)	9 (2.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (9.3%)	54.2	569^th of 1111 public elementary schools	48.8%		54.4	545^th of 1110 public elementary schools	50.9%	24	71.4	83.9	80.6	59.7	74.6	78.6	62.7	75.5	$11,920	$910	$11,010
Oak Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5005 Grandin Rd Extension	Roanoke	24018	Roanoke County	Roanoke County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 772-7580	400	32	12.6	46.3%	277 (69.3%)	45 (11.3%)	36 (9.0%)	18 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.0%)	76.2	267^th of 1111 public elementary schools	76.0%		80.5	207^th of 1110 public elementary schools	81.4%	60	80.3	78.9	80.6	83.6	77.3	84.5	88.1	88.4	$13,204	$277	$12,927
Glen Cove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5901 Cove Rd	Roanoke	24019	Roanoke County	Roanoke County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 561-8135	425	30	14.4	67.5%	263 (61.9%)	63 (14.8%)	47 (11.1%)	19 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (7.8%)	82	174^th of 1111 public elementary schools	84.3%		81.1	194^th of 1110 public elementary schools	82.5%	20	86.8	79.7	88.7	87.1	83.8	83.1	90.5	87.3	$11,030	$587	$10,443
Fort Lewis Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3115 West Main St	Salem	24153	Salem city	Roanoke County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 387-6594	250	18	14.2	21.6%	198 (79.2%)	5 (2.0%)	18 (7.2%)	10 (4.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (7.2%)	86.5	97^th of 1111 public elementary schools	91.3%		87	88^th of 1110 public elementary schools	92.1%	9	94.4	94.2	94.3	85.7	94.4	86.5	82.9	84.3	$12,352	$32	$12,320
Fairview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	648 Westwood Blvd NW	Roanoke	24017	Roanoke city	Roanoke City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 853-2978	479	40	12.0	99.4%	67 (14.0%)	258 (53.9%)	74 (15.4%)	50 (10.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (6.1%)	8.1	1042^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	6.2%		17	961^st of 1110 public elementary schools	13.4%	81	35.1	50.0	52.2	49.3	28.1	56.6	50.8	48.6	$12,911	$1,894	$11,017
Westside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1441 Westside Blvd NW	Roanoke	24017	Roanoke city	Roanoke City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(540) 853-2967	624	54	11.5	98.9%	69 (11.1%)	342 (54.8%)	149 (23.9%)	9 (1.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (8.5%)	2.8	1091^st of 1111 public elementary schools	1.8%		4.5	1076^th of 1110 public elementary schools	3.1%	15	51.1	30.4	41.0	23.1	45.2	38.0	41.0	34.8	$15,467	$2,131	$13,336
Glenvar Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4507 Malus Dr	Salem	24153	Salem city	Roanoke County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(540) 387-6540	372	26	14.5	42.7%	322 (86.6%)	13 (3.5%)	18 (4.8%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.0%)	62.6	446^th of 1111 public elementary schools	59.9%		64.4	431^st of 1110 public elementary schools	61.2%	15	71.9	77.4	86.4	81.4	51.6	87.0	79.7	82.0	$11,049	$294	$10,755

Frequently Asked Questions about G.W. Carver Elementary

What district is G.W. Carver Elementary in?

Salem City Public Schools

Is G.W. Carver Elementary a good school?

G.W. Carver Elementary ranks 190^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend G.W. Carver Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 404 students attended G.W. Carver Elementary.

What schools do graduates of G.W. Carver Elementary attend?

Students who attend G.W. Carver Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Andrew Lewis Middle
High : Salem High

What is the racial makeup of G.W. Carver Elementary?

Students at G.W. Carver Elementary are 58% White, 24% African American, 12% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

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