Public schools in Salem, OR
58 open public schools with an address in Salem, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
58
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
31,869
58 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
20:1
Oregon median 17.1:1
Charter schools
4
0 virtual
An overview of Salem public schools
The federal directory lists 58 public schools in Salem, OR: 38 elementary, 11 middle, 8 high, 1 combined or other. The 58 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 31,869 students, an average of 549 per school. The largest campus is McKay High School (2,380 students), and the largest elementary school is Auburn Elementary School (592).
Salem-Keizer SD 24J operates the most schools here (54), and 2 regular districts have at least one Salem campus, plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 20:1, higher than the statewide school median of 17.1:1. 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.
School choice options include 4 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 8 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 4 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 6 of 8 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 88% 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
Elementary schools in Salem
38| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 592 | 18.4:1 | |
| Battle Creek Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 426 | 21.3:1 | |
| Brush College Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 250 | 18.5:1 | |
| Bush Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 255 | 18.1:1 | |
| Candalaria Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 271 | 21.9:1 | |
| Cesar E Chavez Elementary Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 464 | 19.2:1 | |
| Chapman Hill Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 306 | 17:1 | |
| Eagle Charter School Oregon Department of Education · Charter | KG–05 | 150 | 21.1:1 | |
| Englewood Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 285 | 17.6:1 | |
| Eyre Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 538 | 20.9:1 | |
| Four Corners Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 362 | 26.2:1 | |
| Grant Community School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 444 | 19.1:1 | |
| Hallman Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 339 | 18.9:1 | |
| Hammond Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 460 | 20.2:1 | |
| Harritt Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 498 | 18.2:1 | |
| Hayesville Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 442 | 18.7:1 | |
| Highland Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 263 | 17.4:1 | |
| Hoover Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 402 | 19.7:1 | |
| Kalapuya Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 483 | 21.7:1 | |
| Lamb Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 436 | 19.7:1 | |
| Lee Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 336 | 21.7:1 | |
| Liberty Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 400 | 18.7:1 | |
| McKinley Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 269 | 21.4:1 | |
| Miller Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 318 | 18.2:1 | |
| Morningside Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 311 | 17.6:1 | |
| Myers Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 342 | 20.2:1 | |
| Pratum Elementary School Silver Falls SD 4J | KG–08 | 71 | 20.7:1 | |
| Pringle Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 488 | 21.8:1 | |
| Richmond Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 242 | 15.6:1 | |
| Salem Heights Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 245 | 19.5:1 | |
| Schirle Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 306 | 18.1:1 | |
| Scott Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 464 | 16.6:1 | |
| Sumpter Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 451 | 18.8:1 | |
| Swegle Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 496 | 19.9:1 | |
| Valley Inquiry Charter School Salem-Keizer SD 24J · Charter | KG–08 | 149 | 16.6:1 | |
| Washington Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 365 | 18.3:1 | |
| Wright Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 378 | 19.6:1 | |
| Yoshikai Elementary School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | KG–05 | 478 | 21.1:1 |
Middle schools in Salem
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crossler Middle School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 06–08 | 804 | 24.4:1 | |
| Houck Middle School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 06–08 | 830 | 22.6:1 | |
| Howard Street Charter Salem-Keizer SD 24J · Charter | 06–08 | 184 | 184:1 | |
| Jane Goodall Environmental Middle Charter School Salem-Keizer SD 24J · Charter | 06–08 | 95 | 21.6:1 | |
| Judson Middle School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 06–08 | 811 | 24:1 | |
| Leslie Middle School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 06–08 | 735 | 20.1:1 | |
| Parrish Middle School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 06–08 | 691 | 22.5:1 | |
| Stephens Middle School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 06–08 | 1,014 | 21.9:1 | |
| Straub Middle School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 06–08 | 568 | 22.1:1 | |
| Waldo Middle School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 06–08 | 997 | 20.9:1 | |
| Walker Middle School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 06–08 | 571 | 20.9:1 |
High schools in Salem
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early College High School Salem-Keizer SD 24J · Alternative School | 09–12 | 193 | 18.7:1 | |
| McKay High School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 09–12 | 2,380 | 24.7:1 | |
| North Salem High School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 09–12 | 2,107 | 20.1:1 | |
| Roberts High School Salem-Keizer SD 24J · Alternative School | 07–12 | 515 | 12.4:1 | |
| South Salem High School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 09–12 | 2,195 | 23.6:1 | |
| Sprague High School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 09–12 | 1,712 | 24.4:1 | |
| West Salem High School Salem-Keizer SD 24J | 09–12 | 1,606 | 25.1:1 | |
| Willamette Career Academy Willamette ESD | 11–12 | 0 | 0:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Salem
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon School for the Deaf Oregon Department of Education · Special Education School | KG–12 | 86 | 4.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White36.8%
- Hispanic48%
- Black1.8%
- Asian2.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.7%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander3.4%
- Multiracial6.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 57 Salem schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (31,869 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Salem
How many public schools are in Salem, OR?
The current NCES directory lists 58 open public schools with a location address in Salem: 38 elementary, 11 middle, 8 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 31,869 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 4 education agencies, led by Salem-Keizer SD 24J (54 schools), Oregon Department of Education (2 schools), Silver Falls SD 4J (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?
McKay High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Salem, with 2,380 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Salem?
Yes. 4 of the 58 public schools in Salem are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Eagle Charter School, Howard Street Charter, Jane Goodall Environmental Middle Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Salem schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Salem public schools is 20:1, higher than the Oregon school median of 17.1:1. 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 Oregon 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 Oregon cities