Salem Public Schools Upward Trajectory Continues with Recent DESE District Ranking
Salem enjoys best growth rank among Gateway Cities and overall rank climbs from 14th to 84th
SALEM (May 22, 2026) – Salem Public Schools’ academic growth has accelerated and outcomes have improved rapidly according to the annual Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) district rankings announced Thursday.
SPS growth outpaced 215 other school districts. In this annual DESE update, the higher the ranking number, the better the growth and outcomes. Salem’s jump in the growth rank from 31 to 216 over the previous two years was the third highest jump in the Commonwealth during that period. The district’s growth rank is the best when compared to the 26 Gateway cities while its overall rank is only surpassed by Malden, Attleboro, and Quincy among Gateway Cities. Overall, Salem’s improvement was the fifth-highest increase in the Commonwealth.
“This achievement is a reflection of the incredible dedication of our PreK-12 educators and students,” said Mayor Dominick Pangallo, who also chairs the Salem School Committee. “In Salem, every child belongs and we know they can all do challenging work. Salem schools are excelling because of the aligned commitment across our community to support all our students. As Mayor and School Committee chair, I see that every day, and as a proud Salem Public School parent I see its positive impact.
“Today’s announcement is a testament to the remarkable work done so far, and a challenge for us to continue that forward progress in the months and years ahead,” he added.
Each district receives an overall rank that is a combination of MCAS success and year-to-year growth for individual students. These ranks determine which districts are considered to be in the bottom 10 percent of the state. The consequence of being in the lowest 10 percent is that the total potential seats in charter schools in that community can be doubled from 9 percent to 18 percent. Salem is well outside the bottom 10 percent, ranking now in the 29th percentile with the latest overall ranking.
“This is very, very encouraging data, and the latest indicator that our school district is going in the right direction,” said SPS Interim Superintendent Kate Carbone. “The growth in performance is a reflection of the work that our educators do every day. Starting with our youngest learners, Salem Public Schools uses high quality instructional materials and data-informed instruction, and pairs them with social-emotional learning in support of success. Our schools are well-positioned to continue this growth and student success.”
SPS’s rise in the DESE District Rankings is the most recent milestone in its upward trajectory: In late September, SPS enjoyed a third straight year of significant gains in the MCAS Exam and Accountability Results, particularly in English Language Arts, which rose by eight percentage points, and grades 3-8 showed significant growth in math and science.
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts, a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens through which we view our work. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff unconditionally serves each of our 4,000 students across 11 schools regardless of ability or language.
