Salem Public Schools

Listed by NCES as Salem (district ID 2510380)

Public school district · Essex County · Massachusetts · NCES district ID 2510380

Salem Public Schools spent $26,434 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 88% of the other Massachusetts districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $21,173). Its 11 schools enrolled 3,831 students in 2024-25; 40.2% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $27,232 per student, up 3.0% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 81% (Massachusetts: 89.2%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Massachusetts districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Salem Public Schools in enrollment (3,620 to 3,899 students) and Salem Public Schools itself.

Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Salem Public Schools, FY23Salem Public Schools $26,434; Hingham $22,240; Westborough Public Schools $22,027; Walpole Public Schools $20,507; Stoughton Public Schools $20,236; Reading Public Schools $19,869; West Springfield $19,536; Marshfield Public Schools $19,180; Melrose $16,829; Dracut Public Schools $15,581; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.10k15k20k25k30kSalem Public Schools$26,434Hingham$22,240Westborough Public Schools$22,027Walpole Public Schools$20,507Stoughton Public Schools$20,236Reading Public Schools$19,869West Springfield$19,536Marshfield Public Schools$19,180Melrose$16,829Dracut Public Schools$15,581State median, 1,000+ students $21,173
Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Salem Public Schools, FY23Salem Public Schools $26,434; Hingham $22,240; Westborough Public Schools $22,027; Walpole Public Schools $20,507; Stoughton Public Schools $20,236; Reading Public Schools $19,869; West Springfield $19,536; Marshfield Public Schools $19,180; Melrose $16,829; Dracut Public Schools $15,581; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.10k15k20k25k30kSalem Public Schools$26,434Hingham$22,240Westborough Public Schools$22,027Walpole Public Schools$20,507Stoughton Public Schools$20,236Reading Public Schools$19,869West Springfield$19,536Marshfield Public Schools$19,180Melrose$16,829Dracut Public Schools$15,581State median, 1,000+ students $21,173
Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Salem Public Schools, FY23Salem Public Schools $26,434; Hingham $22,240; Westborough Public Schools $22,027; Walpole Public Schools $20,507; Stoughton Public Schools $20,236; Reading Public Schools $19,869; West Springfield $19,536; Marshfield Public Schools $19,180; Melrose $16,829; Dracut Public Schools $15,581; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.10k20k30kSalem Public Schools$26,434Hingham$22,240Westborough Public Schools$22,027Walpole Public Schools$20,507Stoughton Public Schools$20,236Reading Public Schools$19,869West Springfield$19,536Marshfield Public Schools$19,180Melrose$16,829Dracut Public Schools$15,581State median, 1,000+ students $21,173
Current spending per student, Massachusetts districts closest in size to Salem Public Schools, FY23Salem Public Schools $26,434; Hingham $22,240; Westborough Public Schools $22,027; Walpole Public Schools $20,507; Stoughton Public Schools $20,236; Reading Public Schools $19,869; West Springfield $19,536; Marshfield Public Schools $19,180; Melrose $16,829; Dracut Public Schools $15,581; State median, 1,000+ students $21,173.10k20k30kSalem Public Schools$26,434Hingham$22,240Westborough Public Schools$22,027Walpole Public Schools$20,507Stoughton Public Schools$20,236Reading Public Schools$19,869West Springfield$19,536Marshfield Public Schools$19,180Melrose$16,829Dracut Public Schools$15,581State median, 1,000+ students $21,173

Where the money came from

$107,729,000 in revenue: 40.2% state, 48.2% local and 11.7% federal. Total spending including $78,000 of capital outlay was $113,078,000, or $30,138 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Salem Public Schools revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $43,258,000; Local $51,885,000; Federal $12,586,000; total $107,729,000.
  • State$43,258,000 40%
  • Local$51,885,000 48%
  • Federal$12,586,000 12%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 243 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment rose from 2022-23 to 2024-25

3,709 students in 2022-23, 3,811 students in 2023-24, 3,831 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Salem Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,709, 2023-24: 3,811, 2024-25: 3,83101k2k3k4k2022-233,7092023-243,8112024-253,831
Salem Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,709, 2023-24: 3,811, 2024-25: 3,83101k2k3k4k2022-233,7092023-243,8112024-253,831
Salem Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,709, 2023-24: 3,811, 2024-25: 3,83101k2k3k4k2022-233,7092023-243,8112024-253,831
Salem Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 3,709, 2023-24: 3,811, 2024-25: 3,83101k2k3k4k2022-233,7092023-243,8112024-253,831

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-233,709351.710.5
2023-243,811357.910.6
2024-253,831329.111.6

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$28,837,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $7,686 per student

Salem Public Schools booked $28,837,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 352 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $81,998 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 46 in 100 Massachusetts districts with a figure (state median $83,840, 276 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Massachusetts teacher salary at $88,903 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$21,660,00075.1%
Special education$6,040,00020.9%
Vocational$1,137,0003.9%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $8,205 in 2018-19, $8,159 in 2019-20, $7,550 in 2020-21, $7,718 in 2021-22, $7,686 in 2022-23.

Salem Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $8,205, 2019-20: $8,159, 2020-21: $7,550, 2021-22: $7,718, 2022-23: $7,68602.5k5k7.5k10k2018-19$8,2052019-20$8,1592020-21$7,5502021-22$7,7182022-23$7,686
Salem Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $8,205, 2019-20: $8,159, 2020-21: $7,550, 2021-22: $7,718, 2022-23: $7,68602.5k5k7.5k10k2018-19$8,2052019-20$8,1592020-21$7,5502021-22$7,7182022-23$7,686
Salem Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $8,205, 2019-20: $8,159, 2020-21: $7,550, 2021-22: $7,718, 2022-23: $7,68602.5k5k7.5k10k2018-19$8,2052019-20$8,1592020-21$7,5502021-22$7,7182022-23$7,686
Salem Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $8,205, 2019-20: $8,159, 2020-21: $7,550, 2021-22: $7,718, 2022-23: $7,68602.5k5k7.5k10k2018-19$8,2052019-20$8,1592020-21$7,5502021-22$7,7182022-23$7,686

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Salem Public Schools scored proficient or above: 27% in reading and 20% in math, against 43.7% in reading and 40.7% in math across Massachusetts. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Massachusetts, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtMassachusettsStudents tested
Reading and language arts27%43.7%1,939
Math20%40.7%1,935

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

81% of the 248 students in Salem Public Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 89.2% across Massachusetts. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtMassachusetts
Four-year graduation rate81%89.2%
Students in the class24872,602

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

6 elementary schools, 2,103 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Witchcraft Heights45513.7All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Saltonstall School41213.2All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Bates41012.5All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Horace Mann Laboratory29311.9All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Bentley Academy Innovation School28614.3All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Carlton24710.4All free (CEP)Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 middle school, 611 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Collins Middle61112.6All free (CEP)Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

3 high schools, 1,011 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Salem High9529.8All free (CEP)Not Title I
New Liberty Innovation School368.1All free (CEP)Not Title I
Salem Prep High School2311.8All free (CEP)Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 other school, 106 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Salem Early Childhood1069.2All free (CEP)Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Salem Public Schools

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Salem Public Schools

  1. Massachusetts districts by spending per studentSalem Public Schools ranks 31 of 243 Massachusetts districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($26,434).#31 of 243
  2. Every school district in MassachusettsSalem Public Schools is the number 67 by size of 397 Massachusetts districts, with 3,752 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#67 of 397
  3. Marshfield Public SchoolsThe next larger Massachusetts district: 3,799 students in fall 2022, $19,180 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$19,180
  4. Walpole Public SchoolsThe next smaller Massachusetts district: 3,683 students in fall 2022, $20,507 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$20,507
  5. Compare Salem Public Schools with Marshfield Public SchoolsEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Salem High, its largest high school952 students in 2024-25, 9.8 per teacher.952
  7. Teacher salary spending across MassachusettsSalem Public Schools spent $81,998 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $83,840); spending, not a salary.$81,998
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Salem Public Schools

  1. How many schools and students are in Salem Public Schools?
    11 schools were open in 2024-25 (6 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, 1 other), enrolling 3,831 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Salem Public Schools spend per student?
    $26,434 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Massachusetts median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $21,173 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $27,232 per student, up 3.0% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Salem Public Schools' money come from?
    $107,729,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 40.2% state, 48.2% local and 11.7% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Salem Public Schools live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 717 of the 5,032 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 14.2%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Salem Public Schools spend on teacher salaries?
    $28,837,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $7,686 per student. Divided by the 352 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $81,998 per teacher, more than 46 in 100 Massachusetts districts (state median $83,840). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Massachusetts teacher salary at $88,903 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Salem Public Schools do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Salem Public Schools scored proficient or above: 27% in reading and 20% in math, against 43.7% in reading and 40.7% in math across Massachusetts. Massachusetts's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Salem Public Schools?
    81% of the 248 students in Salem Public Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 89.2% across Massachusetts. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Salem Public Schools' NCES district ID?
    2510380. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .