schoolsbycounty

Salem County Schools & Education

Salem County, New Jersey

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

92/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

95.3%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

95.3%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$12,160

National avg $13,239

State avg $13,088

School Score

92/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 80/100

State Score Position

#5

of 21 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Salem County

Measured School Summary

Salem County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 92/100 and a graduation rate of 95.3%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

With $12,160 per pupil, Salem County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 15% above the New Jersey average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Salem County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

33 public schools and 14 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

92/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #5 of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data.

Completion

95.3%

3.9 pts above the state average

Funding context

$12,160

$928 below the state average

School coverage

33

14 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Salem County has 33 public schools across 14 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

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Parent decision brief

What Salem County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Higher-signal county

Salem County screens well on the measured county-level school signal. The next check is whether that strength is broad across districts or concentrated in a few school pathways.

State position

#5

of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data. The county score is 12 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District

Elementary to high school visible

2,145 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Pennsville School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,796 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Pittsgrove Township School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,681 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 1

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,493 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 1

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District is the largest listed district slice, with 5 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Salem County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Salem County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Salem County, New Jersey

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Small-Scale Education Across Salem County

Salem County operates a focused education network of 33 public schools serving 11,054 students across 14 distinct districts. The infrastructure includes 17 elementary schools and 6 high schools, providing a high ratio of districts to students for localized governance. Four specialized 'other' schools and two special education centers round out the county's academic framework.

Regional Districts Lead the County

The Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District is the largest in the area, managing five schools and 2,145 students. Other major players include the Pennsville School District with 1,796 students and Pittsgrove Township with 1,681. School choice is concentrated in traditional public settings, as only one charter school exists, representing just 3.0% of the county's total schools.

A Predominantly Rural Learning Environment

Attending school in Salem County often means a rural experience, with 15 schools situated in rural locales and 8 in small towns. The average school size is a cozy 335 students, fostering close-knit environments like the 543-student Woodstown High. The Salem County Career and Technical High School stands as the largest institution, yet still maintains a manageable enrollment of 738 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

33

in Salem County

Reported Enrollment

11,054

33 schools reporting

School Districts

14

districts

Charter Schools

1

3% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary17
Middle6
High6
Other4

14 School Districts in Salem County

Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District

5 schools
2,145 students

Pennsville School District

5 schools
1,796 students

Pittsgrove Township School District

5 schools
1,681 students

Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District

4 schools
1,493 students

Salem City School District

3 schools
1,318 students

Salem County Vocational Technical School District

1 school
738 students

UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP School District

1 school
333 students

Oldmans Township School District

1 school
282 students

Quinton Township School District

1 school
282 students

Alloway Twp School District

1 school
262 students

33 Public Schools in Salem County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 33 matching schools

Salem County Career and Technical High School

Salem County Vocational Technical School District

WOODSTOWN, 08098 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12Vocational738 students

Penns Grove High School

Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District

CARNEYS POINT, 08069 / Suburb: Large

Record9–12High576 students

Woodstown High School

Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District

WOODSTOWN, 08098 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High543 students

Mary S. Shoemaker School

Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District

WOODSTOWN, 08098 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary515 students

Field Street School

Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District

CARNEYS POINT, 08069 / Suburb: Large

Record1–3Primary501 students

Pittsgrove Township Middle School

Pittsgrove Township School District

PITTSGROVE, 08318 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–8Middle499 students

Arthur P. Schalick High School

Pittsgrove Township School District

PITTSGROVE, 08318 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High495 students

Penns Grove Middle School

Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District

PENNS GROVE, 08069 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle492 students

Salem Middle School

Salem City School District

SALEM, 08079 / Town: Fringe

Record3–8Middle487 students

Pennsville Memorial High School

Pennsville School District

PENNSVILLE, 08070 / Suburb: Large

Record9–12High462 students

Pennsville Middle School

Pennsville School District

PENNSVILLE, 08070 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle440 students

Salem High School

Salem City School District

SALEM, 08079 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High420 students

John Fenwick Academy

Salem City School District

SALEM, 08079 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–2Primary411 students

Valley Park Elementary School

Pennsville School District

PENNSVILLE, 08070 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–1Primary362 students

Olivet Elementary School

Pittsgrove Township School District

PITTSGROVE, 08318 / Rural: Fringe

Record2–4Primary342 students

Paul W Carleton

Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District

PENNS GROVE, 08069 / Suburb: Large

Record4–5Primary340 students

Upper Pittsgrove School

UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP School District

MONROEVILLE, 08343 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–8Primary333 students

Penn Beach Elementary

Pennsville School District

PENNSVILLE, 08070 / Suburb: Large

Record4–5Primary316 students

Woodstown Middle School

Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District

WOODSTOWN, 08098 / Town: Fringe

Record6–8Middle283 students

Oldmans Township School

Oldmans Township School District

PEDRICKTOWN, 08067 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–8Primary282 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$12,160

State avg $13,088

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Salem County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

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Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which New Jersey counties have the highest graduation rates?
Hunterdon County (95.8%), Salem County (95.3%), and Bergen County (95.1%) currently lead New Jersey among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in New Jersey?
Across New Jersey counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $13,088. The highest current county values are Hunterdon County ($15,445), Sussex County ($14,659), and Cape May County ($14,220). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Salem County?
Salem County has a school score of 92/100, which is a higher measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Salem County?
The high school graduation rate in Salem County is 95.3%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Salem County spend per student?
Salem County spends $12,160 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Salem County, New Jersey — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Salem County, New Jersey?

Salem County operates a focused education network of 33 public schools serving 11,054 students across 14 distinct districts. The infrastructure includes 17 elementary schools and 6 high schools, providing a high ratio of districts to students for localized governance. Four specialized 'other' schools and two special education centers round out the county's academic framework.

What are the major school districts in Salem County, New Jersey?

The Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District is the largest in the area, managing five schools and 2,145 students. Other major players include the Pennsville School District with 1,796 students and Pittsgrove Township with 1,681. School choice is concentrated in traditional public settings, as only one charter school exists, representing just 3.0% of the county's total schools.

What is the school experience like in Salem County?

Attending school in Salem County often means a rural experience, with 15 schools situated in rural locales and 8 in small towns. The average school size is a cozy 335 students, fostering close-knit environments like the 543-student Woodstown High. The Salem County Career and Technical High School stands as the largest institution, yet still maintains a manageable enrollment of 738 students.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Burlington County

New Jersey

+1 pts

93/100

School score

Monmouth County

New Jersey

-1 pts

91/100

School score

Bergen County

New Jersey

+1 pts

93/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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