Enrollment
541
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Virginia Beach, VA
Salem Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Salem Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 510384002139
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Salem Elementary earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Virginia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia schools.
- #35 of 53
- schools in Virginia Beach · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.9:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 26.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Salem Elementary has class sizes larger than 90% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Salem Elementary ranks #35 of 53 schools in Virginia Beach, VA.
School address
District: Virginia Beach City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510384002139 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.9:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
26.3%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-54% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Salem Elementary compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Salem Elementary
Salem Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, enrolling 541 students.
Class loads run heavy: 16.9:1 is larger than about 90% of Virginia schools and 22% above the 13.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 26.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 541 students, its enrollment sits close to the Virginia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Among 295 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Virginia schools statewide, it ranks #235, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (29%) and Asian (24%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 78/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 386 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
14.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Virginia Beach's public schools, it stands alongside Glenwood Elementary (896 students): Salem Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16.9:1 vs 14.2:1).
Virginia Beach City Public Schools also operates Landstown High (2,152 students) and Kempsville High (2,046 students) alongside Salem 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 Elementary compares
Salem Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.9:1 | ▲ 22% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.3% | ▼ 54% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 541 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
541
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
26.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 90% in Virginia - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
14.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$14,118
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.4 FTE
Per 386 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 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 29.0%
Asian 24.0%
African American 20.7%
Hispanic or Latino 14.0%
Two or More 10.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 29.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 78.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 78.4, Salem Elementary is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Virginia Beach City Public Schools, which includes Salem Elementary.
$14,118
Per student
-4%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
-15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.6%
State 39.7%
Federal 13.7%
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 Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landstown High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kempsville High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bayside High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tallwood High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Floyd Kellam High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Salem Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,152
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 2,046
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,984
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,890
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 1,842
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar other schools in Virginia Beach
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Glenwood Elementary
Standard public school
896 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Thoroughgood Elementary
Standard public school
767 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
John B. Dey Elementary
Standard public school
744 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
New Castle Elementary
Standard public school
728 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Three Oaks Elementary
Standard public school
706 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Point O' View Elementary
Standard public school
692 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Virginia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~541 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Salem Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Salem Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Virginia Beach City 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 Elementary
How many students attend Salem Elementary?
Salem Elementary has 541 students enrolled. It is a public school in Virginia Beach, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Salem Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Salem Elementary is 16.9:1, which is 22% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Salem Elementary?
26.3% of students at Salem Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Salem Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Salem Elementary is White at 29.0% of enrollment, in Virginia Beach, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 78.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Salem Elementary?
Salem Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical 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 Elementary rank among schools in Virginia Beach?
By Resource Investment Index, Salem Elementary ranks #35 of 53 schools in Virginia Beach, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Virginia Beach on the city page.
Is Salem Elementary a good school?
Salem Elementary earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Virginia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia 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 Virginia Beach City Public Schools?
Besides Salem Elementary, Virginia Beach City Public Schools also operates Landstown High (2,152 students), Kempsville High (2,046 students), and Bayside High (1,984 students). See the Virginia Beach City 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.