Enrollment
1,072
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Virginia Beach, VA
Salem Middle
Federal NCES profile for Salem Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510384002138
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 73
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Salem Middle earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Virginia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Virginia schools.
- #2 of 14
- middle schools in Virginia Beach · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.5:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 31.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Salem Middle has class sizes larger than 76% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Salem Middle ranks #2 of 14 middle schools in Virginia Beach, VA.
School address
District: Virginia Beach City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510384002138 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
69.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.5:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
31.5%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-45% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Salem Middle compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Salem Middle
Salem Middle is a large middle school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, enrolling 1,072 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 31.5% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 1,072 puts it in the larger third of Virginia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 235 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #35.
Its student body is led by White (35%) and African American (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 77/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 268 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
11.0% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Virginia Beach's middle schools, it stands alongside Larkspur Middle (1,488 students): Salem Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.5:1 vs 15.8:1).
Virginia Beach City Public Schools also operates Landstown High (2,152 students) and Kempsville High (2,046 students) alongside Salem Middle.
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 Middle compares
Salem Middle on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.5:1 | ▲ 12% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.5% | ▼ 45% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,072 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,072
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
31.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 45% 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
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 76% in Virginia - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
11.0%
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 268 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
69
in-school suspensions + 76 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.5 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 35.4%
African American 21.3%
Asian 14.9%
Hispanic or Latino 14.2%
Two or More 13.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 35.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.0, Salem Middle 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 Middle.
$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 Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landstown High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kempsville High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bayside High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tallwood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Floyd Kellam High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Salem Middle'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 middle schools in Virginia Beach
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Larkspur Middle
Standard public school
1,488 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Princess Anne Middle
Standard public school
1,358 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Landstown Middle
Standard public school
1,272 students 15:1 students per teacher
Independence Middle
Standard public school
1,193 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Brandon Middle
Standard public school
1,053 students 16:1 students per teacher
Great Neck Middle
Standard public school
1,039 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~1,072 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Salem Middle's federal record.
- Compare Salem Middle 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 Middle
How many students attend Salem Middle?
Salem Middle has 1,072 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Virginia Beach, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Salem Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Salem Middle is 15.5:1, which is 12% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Salem Middle?
31.5% of students at Salem Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Salem Middle?
The largest demographic group at Salem Middle is White at 35.4% of enrollment, in Virginia Beach, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Salem Middle?
Salem Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher 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 Middle rank among middle schools in Virginia Beach?
By Resource Investment Index, Salem Middle ranks #2 of 14 middle 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 middle schools in Virginia Beach on the city page.
Is Salem Middle a good school?
Salem Middle earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% 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 Middle, 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.