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Salem Elementary

Q: Is Salem Elementary a good school?

Salem Elementary ranks 122 nd of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

122^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Salem Elementary is a PK-5 school in Virginia Beach City Public Schools enrolling 541 students, located in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach. The school currently ranks 122nd out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools (89th percentile, 4 stars), a significant jump from 229th the prior year and 370th in 2022-23. Salem's recent trajectory suggests it is returning to its 2018-19 performance level, when it ranked 62nd and earned 5 stars. Academically, Salem exceeds both the district and state averages in every tested subject and grade level, often by double digits.

What truly sets Salem apart is its equitable effectiveness. Its Low Socioeconomic Status subgroup ranks 17th out of 1,040 schools statewide—the 98th percentile—which is even stronger than the school's overall rank. African American, Hispanic, and Multi-racial students all score in the 88th to 94th percentiles statewide. The school also shows consistent academic growth from 3rd to 5th grade: math proficiency climbs from 84.5% to 92.2%, and reading from 83.1% to 93.5%. This pattern indicates cumulative growth rather than a mid-grade slump. Chronic absenteeism has plummeted from 15.4% in 2021-22 to 6.3% in 2024-25, well below the district (10.1%) and state (14.8%) averages.

Salem achieves these results with below-average spending compared to nearby schools. At $13,986 per student, it spends thousands less than lower-performing neighboring schools like Green Run Elementary ($20,505), Rosemont Elementary ($19,897), and Parkway Elementary ($18,913). Among the 10 comparison schools within roughly three miles, Salem is the second-highest ranked, behind only New Castle Elementary. Salem actually posts higher 4th-grade reading scores than New Castle (91.6% vs. 90.5%) and nearly identical 5th-grade reading (93.5% vs. 94.0%), despite serving a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students. The main remaining opportunity is closing the small gap to New Castle, and the current trajectory suggests that gap is narrowing.

541

Students ?

16.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,986

Per pupil spending ?

33.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3961 Salem Lakes Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA 23456

(757) 648-3680

District: Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

29.0%

Asian:

24.0%

African American:

20.7%

See top rated Virginia elementary schools

Compare Salem Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 81st percentile in 2016 → 89th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (88% vs 72% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of Virginia elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 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 school88%

District avg77%

Virginia avg72%

122^nd of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 8 pts since 2016

From top 19% (2016) to top 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 53Elementary Schools in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools

29^th of 131Virginia Beach 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	85.2	122 of 1111	89.0%	★★★★☆
2025	79.0	229 of 1110	79.4%	★★★★☆
2024	80.8	204 of 1114	81.7%	★★★★☆
2023	68.2	370 of 1114	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	83.2	163 of 1109	85.3%	★★★★☆
2021	83.8	152 of 1103	86.2%	★★★★☆
2019	86.2	62 of 1105	94.4%	★★★★★
2018	81.4	134 of 1097	87.8%	★★★★☆
2017	72.9	261 of 1099	76.3%	★★★★☆
2016	76.3	206 of 1096	81.2%	★★★★☆
2015	72.8	253 of 1100	77.0%	★★★★☆
2014	69.8	299 of 1110	73.1%	★★★★☆
2013	74.3	239 of 1120	78.7%	★★★★☆
2012	76.1	189 of 1117	83.1%	★★★★☆
2011	80.8	109 of 1117	90.2%	★★★★★
2010	74.4	195 of 1113	82.5%	★★★★☆
2009	79.9	105 of 1082	90.3%	★★★★★
2008	80.9	89 of 1081	91.8%	★★★★★
2007	76.4	167 of 1083	84.6%	★★★★☆
2006	74.1	211 of 1071	80.3%	★★★★☆
2005	79.9	137 of 1062	87.1%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	82.2	69 of 591	88.3%	★★★★☆
2025	68.4	165 of 579	71.5%	★★★★☆
2024	77.3	103 of 588	82.5%	★★★★☆
2023	66.7	179 of 579	69.1%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	68.7	70 of 246	71.5%	★★★★☆
2025	67.3	86 of 249	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.1	86 of 238	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.7	97 of 230	57.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	83.6	127 of 1100	88.5%	★★★★☆
2025	77.7	232 of 1096	78.8%	★★★★☆
2024	79.8	185 of 1098	83.2%	★★★★☆
2023	71.2	310 of 1100	71.8%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	83.5	66 of 619	89.3%	★★★★☆
2025	87.7	44 of 606	92.7%	★★★★★
2024	85.5	52 of 580	91.0%	★★★★★
2023	60.9	224 of 564	60.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	94.6	17 of 1040	98.4%	★★★★★
2025	86.6	64 of 1046	93.9%	★★★★★
2024	89.0	42 of 1036	95.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	83.4	128 of 1099	88.4%	★★★★☆
2025	77.0	246 of 1093	77.5%	★★★★☆
2024	78.8	207 of 1101	81.2%	★★★★☆
2023	61.5	431 of 1093	60.6%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	64.7	60 of 206	70.9%	★★★★☆
2025	47.8	111 of 192	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.5	113 of 195	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.9	115 of 182	36.8%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	88.1	18 of 306	94.1%	★★★★★
2025	43.4	176 of 271	35.1%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	75.7	188 of 974	80.7%	★★★★☆
2025	72.2	241 of 973	75.2%	★★★★☆
2024	64.3	363 of 979	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.6	442 of 984	55.1%	★★★☆☆

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)98th percentile+9 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)94th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)89th percentile~ school

Female (2026)88th percentile~ school

Male (2026)88th percentile~ school

African American (2026)88th percentile~ school

White (2026)81st percentile-8 vs school

Asian (2026)72nd percentile-17 vs school

Military Connected (2026)71st percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

VA Studies89%+15 vs state

English Reading89%+18 vs state

Mathematics89%+15 vs state

Science82%+13 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, May 13, 2019

My child has been going to this school since Kindergarten, and she is in 5th grade now. This is a very good school with great teachers and an amazing principal - Dr. Ann Shufflebarger. The principal is a very energetic woman, and there has been a lot of positive changes in the school since her arrival a couple of years ago. Everything is done for the high academic achievement: experienced attentive teachers a cozy library with a librarian's therapy dog visiting the school occasionally a Salem RAM code (Respect, Responsible, and Safe) strictly followed and enforced and encouragement to participate in various clubs (STEM, Art, Technology, Strings, etc.) and activities (SCA, school's news team, etc.). The principal and teachers attend every out-of-school (school-related) activity where Salem children participate. The school atmosphere gives to my introverted child a sense of security and acceptance. Thank you, Salem Elementary staff!!!! Close Quote

Schools Near 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 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Salem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3961 Salem Lakes Blvd	Virginia Beach	23456	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-3680	541	33	16.2	33.8%	157 (29.0%)	112 (20.7%)	76 (14.0%)	130 (24.0%)	5 (0.9%)	3 (0.6%)	58 (10.7%)	85.2	122^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	89.0%		79	229^th of 1110 public elementary schools	79.4%	107	84.5	89.2	92.2	81.6	83.1	91.6	93.5	89.3	$13,986	$738	$13,249
Rosemont Forest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1716 Grey Friars Chase	Virginia Beach	23456	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-3640	497	32	15.6	30.4%	202 (40.6%)	74 (14.9%)	81 (16.3%)	58 (11.7%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	77 (15.5%)	74.5	284^th of 1111 public elementary schools	74.4%		76.3	272^nd of 1110 public elementary schools	75.5%	12	76.8	87.1	84.2	72.0	85.2	83.9	85.2	82.5	$15,072	$962	$14,110
New Castle Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4136 Dam Neck Road	Virginia Beach	23456	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-3080	728	40	18.3	23.1%	337 (46.3%)	79 (10.9%)	101 (13.9%)	111 (15.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.5%)	96 (13.2%)	90.5	39^th of 1111 public elementary schools	96.5%		85.9	105^th of 1110 public elementary schools	90.5%	66	95.6	91.4	94.9	87.2	89.3	90.5	94.0	92.9	$13,434	$1,016	$12,418
Landstown Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2212 Recreation Dr	Virginia Beach	23456	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-2880	632	49	12.8	41.5%	206 (32.6%)	141 (22.3%)	111 (17.6%)	80 (12.7%)	3 (0.5%)	4 (0.6%)	87 (13.8%)	45.8	665^th of 1111 public elementary schools	40.1%		36.2	753^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	32.2%	88	84.6	71.7	63.0	60.4	71.8	77.5	62.6	64.8	$15,170	$1,091	$14,079
Glenwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2213 Round Hill Dr	Virginia Beach	23464	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-2520	896	60	14.8	45.3%	330 (36.8%)	179 (20.0%)	137 (15.3%)	116 (12.9%)	4 (0.4%)	3 (0.3%)	127 (14.2%)	78.9	218^th of 1111 public elementary schools	80.4%		81.3	191^st of 1110 public elementary schools	82.8%	27	80.9	81.8	91.7	84.2	74.7	84.2	90.2	90.6	$14,349	$1,019	$13,330
Parkway Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4180 O'Hare Dr	Virginia Beach	23453	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 648-3280	465	40	11.5	85.2%	77 (16.6%)	225 (48.4%)	66 (14.2%)	31 (6.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	64 (13.8%)	34	804^th of 1111 public elementary schools	27.6%		34.4	781^st of 1110 public elementary schools	29.6%	23	62.5	56.0	68.3	65.1	62.5	64.3	73.0	69.4	$18,913	$2,986	$15,927
Rosemont Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1257 Rosemont Rd	Virginia Beach	23453	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 648-3600	387	36	10.6	76.5%	80 (20.7%)	151 (39.0%)	66 (17.1%)	27 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	62 (16.0%)	57.3	517^th of 1111 public elementary schools	53.5%		46.6	648^th of 1110 public elementary schools	41.6%	131	60.0	68.0	79.7	81.4	70.9	72.0	89.8	74.1	$19,897	$2,362	$17,535
White Oaks Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	960 Windsor Oaks Blvd	Virginia Beach	23462	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-4040	653	51	12.7	54.5%	207 (31.7%)	172 (26.3%)	140 (21.4%)	34 (5.2%)	2 (0.3%)	5 (0.8%)	93 (14.2%)	46.3	654^th of 1111 public elementary schools	41.1%		56.2	531^st of 1110 public elementary schools	52.2%	123	70.9	63.5	76.3	66.0	59.2	70.8	78.4	75.6	$15,437	$1,428	$14,008
Indian Lakes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1240 Homestead Dr	Virginia Beach	23464	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 648-2680	516	39	13.1	39.5%	226 (43.8%)	114 (22.1%)	83 (16.1%)	22 (4.3%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	67 (13.0%)	57.4	514^th of 1111 public elementary schools	53.7%		58.5	497^th of 1110 public elementary schools	55.2%	17	66.7	65.7	85.9	75.6	70.2	68.1	80.5	82.9	$15,058	$1,345	$13,713
Green Run Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1200 Green Garden Circle	Virginia Beach	23453	Virginia Beach city	Virginia Beach City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 648-2560	350	30	11.5	100.9%	74 (21.1%)	151 (43.1%)	52 (14.9%)	23 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	49 (14.0%)	34.1	801^st of 1111 public elementary schools	27.9%		35.6	761^st of 1110 public elementary schools	31.4%	40	58.3	66.0	71.7	64.2	56.3	58.5	64.8	78.0	$20,505	$2,828	$17,677

Frequently Asked Questions about Salem Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Salem Elementary?

Students at Salem Elementary are 29% White, 24% Asian, 21% African American, 14% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races.

Is Salem Elementary a good school?

Salem Elementary ranks 122^nd of 1111 Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Salem Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 541 students attended Salem Elementary.

What district is Salem Elementary in?

Virginia Beach 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.