Schools
Salem Public Schools compared with the state, from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Checked . DESE updates each figure once a year.
Summary
- Graduation rate 86.3% Class of 2025 · State 89.3%
- Chronically absent 16.8% 2025–26 · State 17.1%
- MCAS English, grades 3–8 30% Spring 2026, meeting or exceeding · State 40%
- MCAS math, grades 3–8 25% Spring 2026, meeting or exceeding · State 41%
Graduation rate
Share of students who graduated high school within four years of starting ninth grade.
| Class of | Salem | State |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 86.3% | 89.3% |
| 2024 | 81.6% | 88.4% |
| 2023 | 80.6% | 89.2% |
| 2022 | 75.9% | 90.1% |
| 2021 | 78.5% | 89.8% |
| 2020 | 73.9% | 89.0% |
| 2019 | 80.5% | 88.0% |
| 2018 | 82.4% | 87.9% |
Source: DESE High School Graduation Rates (opens in new tab).
Chronic absenteeism
Share of students who missed 10% or more of the school days they were enrolled, for any reason.
| School year | Salem | State |
|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 | 16.8% | 17.1% |
| 2024–25 | 19.2% | 18.8% |
| 2023–24 | 20.3% | 19.7% |
| 2022–23 | 24.9% | 22.2% |
| 2021–22 | 34.0% | 27.7% |
| 2020–21 | 30.5% | 17.7% |
| 2019–20 | 24.4% | 13.0% |
| 2018–19 | 25.1% | 12.9% |
Schools closed in spring 2020 and many were remote in 2020–21, which affects those years. Source: DESE Student Attendance (opens in new tab).
MCAS results
Share of students in grades 3 to 8 who met or exceeded expectations on the state MCAS tests.
English
| Spring | Salem | State |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 30% | 40% |
| 2025 | 32% | 42% |
| 2024 | 24% | 39% |
| 2023 | 28% | 42% |
| 2022 | 26% | 41% |
| 2021 | 34% | 46% |
| 2019 | 41% | 52% |
| 2018 | 40% | 51% |
Math
| Spring | Salem | State |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 25% | 41% |
| 2025 | 24% | 41% |
| 2024 | 23% | 41% |
| 2023 | 21% | 41% |
| 2022 | 20% | 39% |
| 2021 | 16% | 33% |
| 2019 | 34% | 49% |
| 2018 | 34% | 48% |
No MCAS tests were given in 2020. In spring 2021, tests for grades 3 to 8 were shortened and fewer students took part, so 2021 results aren't directly comparable with other years. Source: DESE MCAS Achievement Results (opens in new tab).
All figures from the state's Education-to-Career (E2C) data hub (opens in new tab), published by DESE.