Summary:
Zip code 22464 contains one high school, Salem High, serving grades 9–12 in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools district, with an enrollment of 1,690 students. Salem High is an exceptionally strong academic performer, consistently ranking in the top 15% of Virginia high schools—hitting the 89th percentile in both 2025–2026 and 2023–2024, and earning a 4-star SchoolDigger rating. Its district ranks 29th out of 131 Virginia districts, placing it in the 78th percentile. Graduation and dropout outcomes are excellent: Salem’s graduation rate is 97.3% (compared to 92.3% statewide), its dropout rate is just 1.2% (vs. 5.0% statewide), and chronic absenteeism at 11.6% is better than the state’s 14.8%, though slightly above the district’s 10.1%.
On SOL tests, Salem High outperforms the state average in 38 of 39 reported test administrations. Math is a clear strength: 9th-grade Geometry proficiency is 95.1%, Algebra I is 93.2%, and Algebra II is 95.7%—all well above district and state averages, with Algebra II reaching a perfect 100% proficiency in 2024–2025. Reading and writing for 11th graders are also strong, with 94.6% proficiency in Reading and 88.5% in Writing in 2025–2026. However, a few notable gaps exist. The weakest subject is 11th-grade VA/US History at 42.4% proficiency (2025–2026), and 10th-grade Geography trails the district at 66.7% vs. 71.8%. Most concerning is 10th-grade English Reading, which sits at 78.6% versus the district’s 93.3%, a gap of nearly 15 points.
The school also shows uneven upperclassmen performance: 9th-grade Biology proficiency is 94.5%, but 10th-grade Biology drops to 78.2%, likely reflecting differences in course-taking or testing populations. Salem High serves a sizable student body with 34.67% free/reduced lunch eligibility, per-student spending of $13,585, and a 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio. For parents, Salem High is a highly ranked, well-resourced school with exceptional math, reading, graduation, and dropout outcomes. Its main areas for instructional attention are VA/US History, 10th-grade Geography, and 10th-grade English Reading, where the school trails its own district. Overall, Salem High is a strong educational choice in zip code 22464.
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