Enrollment
713
Maryland · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hagerstown, MD
Salem Avenue Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Salem Avenue Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240066001283
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 1
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Salem Avenue Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Maryland median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools.
- #14 of 14
- schools in Hagerstown · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 84.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Salem Avenue Elementary has class sizes near the Maryland median. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Salem Avenue Elementary ranks #14 of 14 schools in Hagerstown, MD.
School address
District: Washington County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240066001283 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
47.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.2:1
vs 14.5:1 Maryland avg
+5% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
84.1%
vs 49.0% Maryland avg
+72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Salem Avenue Elementary compares with Maryland and U.S. medians
What stands out at Salem Avenue Elementary
Salem Avenue Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Hagerstown, Maryland, enrolling 713 students.
At 15.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Maryland median, within a few percentage points of the 14.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 84.1% of students qualify for free meals, 72% above the Maryland average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 713 puts it in the larger third of Maryland schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 1,382 Maryland schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 147 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Maryland schools statewide, it ranks #122, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (33%) and Hispanic or Latino (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 75/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 713 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 39.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Washington County Public Schools spends $15,838 per pupil, 23% below the Maryland average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Hagerstown's public schools, it stands alongside Pangborn Elementary (749 students): Salem Avenue Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.2:1 vs 15:1).
Washington County Public Schools also operates South Hagerstown High (1,690 students) and North Hagerstown High (1,583 students) alongside Salem Avenue Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Salem Avenue Elementary compares
Salem Avenue Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.2:1 | ▲ 5% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.1% | ▲ 72% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 713 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
713
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
84.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 60% in Maryland - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
39.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,838
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $20,446
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 713 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 33.1%
Hispanic or Latino 26.1%
African American 20.6%
Two or More 18.4%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 33.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.6, Salem Avenue Elementary is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Washington County Public Schools, which includes Salem Avenue Elementary.
$15,838
Per student
-23%
vs Maryland
Avg $20,446
-5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.0%
State 53.7%
Federal 15.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Salem Avenue Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Hagerstown High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Hagerstown High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Williamsport High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western Heights Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| E. Russell Hicks Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Salem Avenue Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,690
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,583
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,061
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 883
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 841
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar other schools in Hagerstown
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pangborn Elementary
Standard public school
749 students 15:1 students per teacher
Rockland Woods Elementary
Standard public school
655 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Ruth Ann Monroe Primary
Standard public school
579 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Lincolnshire Elementary
Standard public school
503 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Jonathan Hager Elementary
Standard public school
498 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Bester Elementary
Standard public school
490 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Maryland, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~713 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Salem Avenue Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Salem Avenue Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Washington County Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Salem Avenue Elementary
How many students attend Salem Avenue Elementary?
Salem Avenue Elementary has 713 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hagerstown, MD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Salem Avenue Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Salem Avenue Elementary is 15.2:1, which is 5% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Salem Avenue Elementary?
84.1% of students at Salem Avenue Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Salem Avenue Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Salem Avenue Elementary is White at 33.1% of enrollment, in Hagerstown, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Salem Avenue Elementary?
Salem Avenue Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Salem Avenue Elementary rank among schools in Hagerstown?
By Resource Investment Index, Salem Avenue Elementary ranks #14 of 14 schools in Hagerstown, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Hagerstown on the city page.
Is Salem Avenue Elementary a good school?
Salem Avenue Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Maryland median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Washington County Public Schools?
Besides Salem Avenue Elementary, Washington County Public Schools also operates South Hagerstown High (1,690 students), North Hagerstown High (1,583 students), and Williamsport High (1,061 students). See the Washington County Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.