- Enrollment
- 1,202
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Salem, VA
West Salem Elementary
Federal NCES profile for West Salem Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 510346002046
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Salem Elementary earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median.
- #4 of 11
- public schools in Salem · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.9:1
- students per teacher
- 32.6%
- free-lunch eligible
West Salem Elementary has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Salem Elementary ranks #4 of 11 public schools in Salem, VA.
School address
District: Salem City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510346002046 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
West Salem Elementary held near 407 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 27.5 → 25.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 510346002046 · Salem, VA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
375 enr · 13.9:1 · 32.6% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Salem High (1,202 students)
West Salem Elementary held near 407 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 27.5 → 25.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
West Salem Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Salem High
Salem High
1,202 students
- Andrew Lewis M
Andrew Lewis Middle
839 students
- G.W. Carver El 404
G.W. Carver Elementary
404 students
- East Salem Ele 378
East Salem Elementary
378 students
- This school 375
West Salem Elementary
375 students
- South Salem El 371
South Salem Elementary
371 students
What this shows West Salem Elementary reports 375 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Salem Elementary compares
West Salem Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.9:1 | ▼ 0% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.6% | ▼ 43% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 375 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
375
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% 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
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 52% in Virginia - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
13.3%
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
$14,892
per pupil, district-wide
- below Virginia avg of $15,892
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.3 FTE
Per 300 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.9%
Hispanic or Latino 6.9%
African American 6.4%
Two or More 4.5%
Asian 3.2%
Largest group: White at 78.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.6, West Salem Elementary is less mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Salem City Public Schools reports $14,892 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Salem Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Andrew Lewis Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| G.W. Carver Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Salem Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Salem Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Salem Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 839
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 404
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 378
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 371
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~375 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Salem Elementary
How many students attend West Salem Elementary?
West Salem Elementary has 375 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Salem, VA. CCD year-over-year: 399 (2022-23) → 407 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Salem Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at West Salem Elementary is 13.9:1, which is 0% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Salem Elementary?
32.6% of students at West Salem Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Salem Elementary?
The largest demographic group at West Salem Elementary is White at 78.9% of enrollment, in Salem, VA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Salem Elementary?
West Salem Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does West Salem Elementary rank among public schools in Salem?
By Resource Investment Index, West Salem Elementary ranks #4 of 11 public schools in Salem, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Salem on the city page.
What other schools are in Salem City Public Schools?
Besides West Salem Elementary, Salem City Public Schools also operates Salem High (1,202 students), Andrew Lewis Middle (839 students), and G.W. Carver Elementary (404 students). See the Salem City Public Schools district page for the complete list.