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South Salem Elementary

Q: Is South Salem Elementary a good school?

South Salem Elementary ranks 246 th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

246^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 78% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

South Salem Elementary is a PK-5 school in Salem, VA, serving 371 students and part of Salem City Public Schools. The school is a consistently strong performer, ranking 246th out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools (78th percentile) with a 4-star rating. While it peaked at 107th statewide in 2022-23, it has never dropped below the 70th percentile over the past decade, showing durable, year-over-year academic strength. In 2025-26, South Salem posted an average SOL proficiency of about 83%, outperforming the district (75%) and state (72%) in nearly every subject and grade. Highlights include 4th grade math and reading at 90% proficiency, and 3rd grade math at 87.5%.

Beyond test scores, South Salem stands out for its supportive learning environment. Its chronic absenteeism rate has dropped to 8.3% in 2024-25, well below the district (10.7%) and state (14.8%). The student-teacher ratio is just 10.1:1 — the lowest among nearby elementary schools, including Glen Cove Elementary (14.4) and East Salem Elementary (12.8). South Salem also achieves this at relatively low cost: it spent $10,097 per student in 2023-24, the least among comparable schools, while many schools spending more (like Westside Elementary at $14,177) post far weaker results.

Within the district, South Salem ranks second among elementary schools, behind G.W. Carver Elementary (190th) and ahead of West Salem Elementary (342nd) and East Salem (569th). It also holds its own against schools from the higher-rated Roanoke County Public Schools, outpacing Glenvar Elementary (446th) and matching Oak Grove Elementary (267th), while Back Creek Elementary (55th) and Fort Lewis Elementary (97th) remain ahead. Most distinctive is its effectiveness with economically disadvantaged students: about 40% qualify for free/reduced lunch, yet this subgroup ranks in the 88th percentile statewide — higher than the school’s overall rank. South Salem is narrowing opportunity gaps while keeping top-quartile results for all its students.

371

Students ?

10.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,097

Per pupil spending ?

40.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1600 Carolyn Rd
Salem, VA 24153-5999

(540) 387-2478

District: Salem City Public Schools

Students who attend South Salem Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Andrew Lewis Middle
High:	Salem High

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.0%

Hispanic:

9.7%

African American:

8.1%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 77th percentile in 2016 → 78th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (83% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 22% of Virginia elementary schools

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school83%

District avg75%

Virginia avg72%

246^th of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 22%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd 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	77.2	246 of 1111	77.9%	★★★★☆
2025	77.6	251 of 1110	77.4%	★★★★☆
2024	80.5	212 of 1114	81.0%	★★★★☆
2023	85.9	107 of 1114	90.4%	★★★★★
2022	73.8	291 of 1109	73.8%	★★★★☆
2021	78.3	234 of 1103	78.8%	★★★★☆
2019	69.9	326 of 1105	70.5%	★★★★☆
2018	74.4	236 of 1097	78.5%	★★★★☆
2017	77.2	188 of 1099	82.9%	★★★★☆
2016	73.0	256 of 1096	76.6%	★★★★☆
2015	69.7	301 of 1100	72.6%	★★★★☆
2014	66.8	338 of 1110	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	83.1	103 of 1120	90.8%	★★★★★
2012	82.9	87 of 1117	92.2%	★★★★★
2011	71.4	253 of 1117	77.4%	★★★★☆
2010	70.0	269 of 1113	75.8%	★★★★☆
2009	81.0	89 of 1082	91.8%	★★★★★
2008	76.9	159 of 1081	85.3%	★★★★☆
2007	87.2	31 of 1083	97.1%	★★★★★
2006	82.5	76 of 1071	92.9%	★★★★★
2005	86.7	36 of 1062	96.6%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	69.0	91 of 355	74.4%	★★★★☆
2023	64.0	107 of 324	67.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	79.6	185 of 1100	83.2%	★★★★☆
2025	78.5	220 of 1096	79.9%	★★★★☆
2024	78.7	201 of 1098	81.7%	★★★★☆
2023	81.5	152 of 1100	86.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	78.3	128 of 1040	87.7%	★★★★☆
2025	78.7	152 of 1046	85.5%	★★★★☆
2024	80.7	117 of 1036	88.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	69.9	329 of 1099	70.1%	★★★★☆
2025	72.6	308 of 1093	71.8%	★★★★☆
2024	79.2	203 of 1101	81.6%	★★★★☆
2023	86.6	76 of 1093	93.0%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	68.2	301 of 974	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	66.2	339 of 973	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.3	346 of 979	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.3	231 of 984	76.5%	★★★★☆

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)88th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)83rd percentile+5 vs school

Disabled (2024)74th percentile-7 vs school

Male (2026)70th percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)69th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

VA Studies84%+14 vs state

Mathematics84%+11 vs state

English Reading84%+13 vs state

Science77%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Salem 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 (2024)
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
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	$10,097	$503	$9,594
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	$10,591	$289	$10,302
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	$11,206	$1,271	$9,935
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	$11,452	$1,716	$9,736
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	$10,676	$503	$10,172
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	$12,726	$1,432	$11,295
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	$11,876	$466	$11,410
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	$10,189	$481	$9,708
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	$12,110	$2,316	$9,794
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	$14,177	$2,212	$11,965

Frequently Asked Questions about South Salem Elementary

What schools do graduates of South Salem Elementary attend?

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

Middle : Andrew Lewis Middle
High : Salem High

How many students attend South Salem Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 371 students attended South Salem Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of South Salem Elementary?

Students at South Salem Elementary are 76% White, 10% Hispanic, 8% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is South Salem Elementary a good school?

South Salem Elementary ranks 246^th of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is South Salem Elementary in?

Salem City Public Schools

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataFeb 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 6, 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.