Public schools in Salem, VA
15 open public schools with an address in Salem, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
15
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,863
12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.3:1
Virginia median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Salem public schools
The federal directory lists 15 public schools in Salem, VA: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 4 combined or other. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,863 students, an average of 489 per school. The largest campus is Salem High (1,202 students), and the largest elementary school is G.W. Carver Elementary (404).
Salem City Public Schools operates the most schools here (8), and 2 regular districts have at least one Salem campus. 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 13.3:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13.7:1. 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 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 47% 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
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Salem Elementary Salem City Public Schools | PK–05 | 378 | 12.8:1 | |
| Fort Lewis Elementary Roanoke County Public Schools | PK–05 | 250 | 14.3:1 | |
| G.W. Carver Elementary Salem City Public Schools | PK–05 | 404 | 13.8:1 | |
| Glenvar Elementary Roanoke County Public Schools | PK–05 | 372 | 14.6:1 | |
| Mason's Cove Elementary Roanoke County Public Schools | PK–05 | 204 | 9.5:1 | |
| South Salem Elementary Salem City Public Schools | PK–05 | 371 | 10.2:1 | |
| West Salem Elementary Salem City Public Schools | PK–05 | 375 | 13.7:1 |
Middle schools in Salem
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Lewis Middle Salem City Public Schools | 06–08 | 839 | 17.2:1 | |
| Glenvar Middle Roanoke County Public Schools | 06–08 | 433 | 11.9:1 |
High schools in Salem
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenvar High Roanoke County Public Schools | 09–12 | 620 | 16:1 | |
| Salem High Salem City Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,202 | 9.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Salem
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burton Center for Arts and Technology Roanoke County Public Schools · Career and Technical School | Not reported | — | — | |
| Governor's STEM Academy at the Burton Center for Arts and Te Roanoke County Public Schools · Career and Technical School | Not reported | — | — | |
| Salem Alternative Salem City Public Schools · Alternative School | Not reported | — | — | |
| Virginia Virtual Academy at Salem Salem City Public Schools · Virtual | KG–12 | 415 | 7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White70.5%
- Hispanic9.3%
- Black12.1%
- Asian2.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial5.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Salem schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,863 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Salem
How many public schools are in Salem, VA?
The current NCES directory lists 15 open public schools with a location address in Salem: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 4 combined or other. Together they reported 5,863 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 2 education agencies, led by Salem City Public Schools (8 schools), Roanoke County Public Schools (7 schools). 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 High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Salem, with 1,202 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 Virginia.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Salem schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Salem public schools is 13.3:1, similar to the Virginia school median of 13.7:1. 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 Virginia 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 Virginia cities