Salem R-80

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Salem, Missouri - 4 schools

An equity score of 27/100 ranks Salem R-80 #382 of 433 districts in Missouri (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,368 per pupil, Salem R-80 ranks #548 of 552 Missouri districts by per-pupil spending (Missouri districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,464
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$9,368
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Salem R-80 operates 4 public schools serving 1,464 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Missouri. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 elementary, 1 combined, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Dent County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,368 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 56 of 552 Missouri districts by per-pupil spending. See how Missouri compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 41.0% local, 36.0% state, and 23.0% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 27/100, ranked #382 of 433 in Missouri against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 287.3:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 21.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 87.7% White, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Salem Middle School, with a diversity index of 29.3/100.

Its largest campus is Salem Sr. High, enrolling 606 students (42% of the district's total enrollment).

Salem Sr. High accounts for 41.4% of all Salem R-80 student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Salem R-80-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Salem R-80 school enrollment varies 2.4× across entities

Salem R-80 school enrollment ranges from 254 students (lowest) to 606 students (highest), a spread of 352 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Salem R-80 student-counselor ratio is 287:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Salem R-80 is typically wider than the Salem R-80-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Salem R-80 chronic absenteeism rate is 21.2% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Salem R-80 is typically wider than the Salem R-80-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

23.0%
Federal
36.0%
State
41.0%
Local

Funding Equity

27
Equity Score
382 / 433
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 4 schools in Salem R-80.

White 87.7%
Hispanic or Latino 4.6%
African American 0.8%
Multiracial 5.7%
Other 0.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 22.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Salem R-80's schools, below the Missouri average of 31.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Salem Middle School 29.3
  2. 2 Salem Upper Elem. 23.8
  3. 3 Wm. H. Lynch Elem. 21.6
  4. 4 Salem Sr. High 15.3

Programs & Resources

287.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
21.2%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Salem R-80

School Enrollment
Salem Sr. High
606
Salem Upper Elem.
335
Wm. H. Lynch Elem.
257
Salem Middle School
254

How Salem R-80 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Missouri districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
East Newton Co. R-Vi Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Gateway Science Acad/St Louis Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Sturgeon R-V Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Hallsville R-Iv Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Maplewood-Richmond Heights Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Salem R-80's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Missouri

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Springfield R-Xii
22,937 students · 57 schools · $14,461/pupil
Compare vs Salem R-80 →
Rockwood R-Vi
20,563 students · 31 schools · $12,527/pupil
Compare vs Salem R-80 →
North Kansas City 74
20,561 students · 34 schools · $14,136/pupil
Compare vs Salem R-80 →
Columbia 93
18,800 students · 36 schools · $13,936/pupil
Compare vs Salem R-80 →
St. Louis City
18,321 students · 68 schools · $22,979/pupil
Compare vs Salem R-80 →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Salem R-80

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Springfield R-Xii →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Salem R-80?

Salem R-80 has 4 schools, including 1 high, 1 elementary, 1 combined, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,464 students.

How much does Salem R-80 spend per student?

Salem R-80 spends $9,368 per student. The district has an equity score of 27/100, ranking #382 in Missouri.

What is the demographic composition of Salem R-80?

Salem R-80 students are 87.7% White, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% African American, 0.4% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Salem R-80?

Salem R-80 has an equity score of 27/100, ranking #382 out of 433 districts in Missouri.