Total enrollment
11,156
+323 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
Salem County
New Jersey · Public K-12
Across Salem County, 33 public K-12 schools educate around 11,156 students, roughly 1 in 6 residents. The level mix runs 19 elementary, 6 middle, and 6 high.
7-year change in Salem County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
33
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
55%
was 61%
% Hispanic
20%
was 14%
% Black
19%
was 20%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
33
15 districts
Enrollment
11,156
NCES CCD
Median income
$79,960
Below New Jersey avg
Free/reduced lunch
45.4%
Above New Jersey avg
Elementary
19
5,410 students
Middle
6
2,371 students
High
6
3,294 students
Combined / other
2
81 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District
2,182 students · 15 districts in Salem County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Salem County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
25.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.4%
civilian labor
Median age
42
21.9% under 18
Test scores in Salem County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 25 schools ranked. New Jersey state average: 53.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Woodstown Middle School· 70.5%
- Mannington Township Elementary School· 66.0%
- Upper Pittsgrove School· 64.2%
- Alloway Township School· 56.8%
- Penn Beach Elementary· 56.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Salem High School· 6.2%
- Penns Grove High School· 12.8%
- Salem Middle School· 15.2%
- Penns Grove Middle School· 16.1%
- Paul W Carleton· 16.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem County Career and Technical High School | Woodstown | High | 09-12 | 754 | · |
| Penns Grove High School | Carneys Point | High | 09-12 | 632 | · |
| Woodstown High School | Woodstown | High | 09-12 | 550 | · |
| Mary S. Shoemaker School | Woodstown | Elementary | KG-05 | 528 | · |
| Pittsgrove Township Middle School | Pittsgrove | Middle | 05-08 | 495 | · |
| Pennsville Memorial High School | Pennsville | High | 09-12 | 483 | · |
| Arthur P. Schalick High School | Pittsgrove | High | 09-12 | 482 | · |
| Salem Middle School | Salem | Middle | 03-08 | 472 | · |
| Field Street School | Carneys Point | Elementary | 01-03 | 463 | · |
| Pennsville Middle School | Pennsville | Middle | 06-08 | 460 | · |
| Penns Grove Middle School | Penns Grove | Middle | 06-08 | 452 | · |
| Salem High School | Salem | High | 09-12 | 393 | · |
| John Fenwick Academy | Salem | Elementary | PK-02 | 387 | · |
| Valley Park Elementary School | Pennsville | Elementary | PK-01 | 365 | · |
| Olivet Elementary School | Pittsgrove | Elementary | 02-04 | 357 | · |
| Upper Pittsgrove School | Monroeville | Elementary | PK-08 | 340 | · |
| Paul W Carleton | Penns Grove | Elementary | 04-05 | 322 | · |
| Lafayette - Pershing | Carneys Point | Elementary | PK-KG | 313 | · |
| Oldmans Township School | Pedricktown | Elementary | PK-08 | 308 | · |
| Woodstown Middle School | Woodstown | Middle | 06-08 | 303 | · |
| Quinton Township School | Quinton | Elementary | PK-08 | 291 | · |
| Alloway Township School | Alloway | Elementary | PK-08 | 285 | · |
| Central Park Elementary School | Pennsville | Elementary | KG-03 | 275 | · |
| Penn Beach Elementary | Pennsville | Elementary | 03-05 | 263 | · |
| Elmer Elementary School | Elmer | Elementary | KG-01 | 197 | · |
| Creativity CoLaboratory Charter School | Elmer | Middle | 05-08 | 189 | · |
| Lower Alloways Creek Elementary School | Salem | Elementary | PK-08 | 183 | · |
| Mannington Township Elementary School | Salem | Elementary | PK-08 | 170 | · |
| Norma Elementary School | Pittsgrove | Elementary | PK-PK | 145 | · |
| William Roper Early Childhood Learning Center | Pilesgrove | Elementary | PK-PK | 113 | · |
| Elsinboro Township School | Salem | Elementary | PK-08 | 105 | · |
| NJ Regional Day - Mannington | Woodstown | Combined | KG-12 | 53 | · |
| Daretown School | Elmer | Combined | PK-12 | 28 | · |
Cities in Salem County
About Salem County
Salem County is a moderately sized county of about 65,275 residents in New Jersey. Its public-school system educates approximately 11,156 students across 33 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show median household income runs near $79,960, 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 9%. That income level is 23% lower than the New Jersey median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Salem County covers 19 elementary schools (5,410 students), 6 middle schools (2,371), 6 high schools (3,294), and 2 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Salem County is Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District, which alone enrolls about 2,182 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 11,156 students, increased 3% from the 10,833 reported in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment fell from 61% to 55%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Salem County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Salem County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data