Public schools in Salem, MO
9 open public schools with an address in Salem, operated by 6 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,169
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.5:1
Missouri median 12.3:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Salem public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Salem, MO: 6 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,169 students, an average of 241 per school. The largest campus is Salem Sr. High (606 students), and the largest elementary school is Salem Upper Elem. (335).
Salem R-80 operates the most schools here (4), and 5 regular districts have at least one Salem campus, plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.5:1, similar to the statewide school median of 12.3:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 0 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 73% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Salem
Salem R-80
Public school district
4 schools in Salem
Dent-Phelps R-III
Public school district
1 school in Salem
Green Forest R-II
Public school district
1 school in Salem
Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled
State operated agency
1 school in Salem · 35 total
North Wood R-IV
Public school district
1 school in Salem
Oak Hill R-I
Public school district
1 school in Salem
Elementary schools in Salem
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dent-Phelps Elem. Dent-Phelps R-III | PK–08 | 256 | 11:1 | |
| Green Forest Elem. Green Forest R-II | KG–08 | 152 | 10.5:1 | |
| North Wood Elem. North Wood R-IV | PK–08 | 155 | 10.4:1 | |
| Oak Hill Elem. Oak Hill R-I | KG–08 | 149 | 11.9:1 | |
| Salem Upper Elem. Salem R-80 | 02–05 | 335 | 13:1 | |
| Wm. H. Lynch Elem. Salem R-80 | PK–01 | 257 | 14.7:1 |
Middle schools in Salem
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Middle School Salem R-80 | 06–08 | 254 | 13.9:1 |
High schools in Salem
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Sr. High Salem R-80 | 09–12 | 606 | 15.3:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Salem
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark Hills School Mo Schls for the Sev Disabled · Special Education School | KG–12 | 5 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White90.9%
- Hispanic3.7%
- Black0.6%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Salem schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,169 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Salem
How many public schools are in Salem, MO?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Salem: 6 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,169 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Salem?
Schools with an address in Salem belong to 6 education agencies, led by Salem R-80 (4 schools), Dent-Phelps R-III (1 school), Green Forest R-II (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Salem?
Salem Sr. High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Salem, with 606 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Salem?
No school with an address in Salem is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Missouri.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Salem schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Salem public schools is 12.5:1, similar to the Missouri school median of 12.3:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Salem guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Missouri cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Missouri cities