South Salem Elementary School

Summary:

South Salem Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Covington, Georgia, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 852 students. The school is part of the Newton County School District, which is ranked 157 out of 203 districts in Georgia and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. South Salem Elementary has consistently been ranked in the bottom half of Georgia elementary schools, with a ranking of 1113 out of 1248 schools for the 2023-2024 school year and a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, South Salem Elementary consistently underperforms compared to the Newton County and Georgia averages on the Milestones Assessments. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 12.8% of 3rd graders, 21.5% of 4th graders, and 27.5% of 5th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the Newton County averages of 23.6%, 26.4%, and 36.3%, respectively. The school's performance in Mathematics and Science is also significantly below the county and state averages. Additionally, South Salem Elementary has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 73.95% in 2020-2021 to 84.98% in 2022-2023, suggesting a high concentration of economically disadvantaged students.

When comparing South Salem Elementary to the nearby schools in the Newton County district, it becomes clear that the school is underperforming academically. For example, Oak Hill Elementary and Porterdale Elementary both have significantly higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science compared to South Salem Elementary. Additionally, South Salem Elementary's performance has remained consistently low over the past several years, with little to no improvement in its statewide ranking or SchoolDigger rating, suggesting that the school may be facing systemic challenges that are not being adequately addressed.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

5335 Salem Rd
Covington, GA 30016

(770) 787-1330

District: Newton County

SchoolDigger Rank:
1113^th of 1,248 Georgia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,256

Students who attend South Salem Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Liberty Middle School
High:	Alcovy High School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.3

Number of students: 848

Racial breakdown:

African American:

64.4%

White:

14.4%

Hispanic:

14.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 96.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details South Salem Elementary School ranks worse than 89.2% of elementary schools in Georgia. It also ranks 13^th among 14 ranked elementary schools in the Newton County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 14.17. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at South Salem Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (64.4%), White (14.4%), Hispanic (14.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 96.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Salem Elementary School is 15.3. 10 elementary schools in the Newton County School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare South Salem Elementary School employs 55.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Salem Elementary School is $9,256. 11 elementary schools in the Newton County School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

South Salem Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Newton County:

SchoolDigger ranks Newton County 157^th of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for South Salem Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	GA State Percentile
2010	36.18	873^rd	1183	26.2%
2011	34.36	913^th	1212	24.7%
2012	26.90	978^th	1201	18.6%
2013	41.72	858^th	1225	30.0%
2014	50.32	738^th	1231	40.0%
2015	29.77	868^th	1240	30.0%
2016	37.09	778^th	1233	36.9%
2017	24.11	924^th	1205	23.3%
2018	26.81	881^st	1209	27.1%
2019	20.46	991^st	1234	19.7%
2021	14.49	1057^th	1214	12.9%
2022	10.51	1161^st	1244	6.7%
2023	13.59	1108^th	1242	10.8%
2024	14.17	1113^th	1248	10.8%

See the entire list of Georgia Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Georgia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2.5)

50%

Reviews:

by a parent
Tuesday, October 26, 2010

I like the teacher Mrs. McCartney she was the best teacher my child ever had!!!!! Close Quote

Enrollment information for South Salem Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2009	300	458	8	29	0	n/a	n/a	29	824
2010	278	448	7	64	0	0	46	0	843
2011	286	420	6	81	0	2	44	0	839
2012	321	482	6	51	0	2	45	0	907
2013	315	466	4	58	0	2	47	0	892
2014	288	505	1	87	3	1	37	0	922
2015	273	472	3	84	2	1	55	0	890
2016	231	492	6	93	2	0	52	0	876
2017	240	497	5	101	3	3	55	0	904
2018	211	505	4	100	3	5	66	0	894
2019	190	514	3	116	4	4	71	0	902
2020	173	516	3	116	2	0	50	0	860
2021	136	513	3	112	1	0	45	0	810
2022	134	565	5	117	1	1	39	0	862
2023	105	586	7	110	0	3	41	0	852
2024	122	546	8	121	2	2	47	0	848

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South Salem Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	824	55.0	15.0	60.1
2010	843	55.5	15.1	68.7
2011	839	53.9	15.5	71
2012	907	58.9	15.3	77.9
2013	892	57.3	15.5	77.1
2014	922	57.5	16.0	79.2
2015	890	58.0	15.3	80
2016	876	59.0	14.8	81.7
2017	904	59.8	15.1	81.4
2018	894	57.8	15.4	81.3
2019	902	59.7	15.1	80.5
2020	860	58.0	14.8	81
2021	810	56.0	14.4	74
2022	862	55.3	15.5	n/a
2023	852	58.1	14.6	85
2024	848	55.1	15.3	96.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio South Salem Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	824	55.0	15.0	60.1
2010	843	55.5	15.1	68.7
2011	839	53.9	15.5	71
2012	907	58.9	15.3	77.9
2013	892	57.3	15.5	77.1
2014	922	57.5	16.0	79.2
2015	890	58.0	15.3	80
2016	876	59.0	14.8	81.7
2017	904	59.8	15.1	81.4
2018	894	57.8	15.4	81.3
2019	902	59.7	15.1	80.5
2020	860	58.0	14.8	81
2021	810	56.0	14.4	74
2022	862	55.3	15.5	n/a
2023	852	58.1	14.6	85
2024	848	55.1	15.3	96.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for South Salem Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017	$580 (7.1%)	$7,567 (92.9%)	$8,146
2018	$693 (8.1%)	$7,856 (91.9%)	$8,550
2019	$699 (7.6%)	$8,557 (92.4%)	$9,256

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Salem Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 991^st of 1234 Elementary schools	Ranks 1108^th of 1242 Elementary schools	8.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Salem Elementary School)	29.8	17.5	12.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Newton County)	33.1	26	7.1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	42	38.6	3.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (South Salem Elementary School)	36.1	15.7	20.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Newton County)	39.3	28	11.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	52	45.6	6.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (South Salem Elementary School)	14.1	20.2	6.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Newton County)	32.6	23.5	9.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	42	36.1	5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (South Salem Elementary School)	17.9	18.6	0.7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Newton County)	38.1	23.1	15%
4th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	49	45.7	3.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (South Salem Elementary School)	32.6	19.2	13.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Newton County)	36.5	27.3	9.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	45	41.6	3.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (South Salem Elementary School)	25	4.1	20.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Newton County)	31.9	17.1	14.8%
5th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	41	37.4	3.6%
5th Grade Science (South Salem Elementary School)	22.9	14.5	8.4%
5th Grade Science (Newton County)	28.7	23.6	5.1%
5th Grade Science (Georgia)	43	40	3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	902	852	5.5%
African American	514	586	14%
American Indian	4	0	100%
Asian	3	7	133.3%
Hispanic	116	110	5.2%
Pacific Islander	4	3	25%
White	190	105	44.7%
Two or More Races	71	41	42.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	80.5%	85%	4.5%

Schools Near South Salem Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Milestones Assessment English Language Arts (2024)			Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2024)			Milestones Assessment Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South Salem Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5335 Salem Rd	Covington	30016	Newton County	Newton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 787-1330	848	55	15.3	96.7%	122 (14.4%)	546 (64.4%)	121 (14.3%)	8 (0.9%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	47 (5.5%)	14.2	1113^th of 1248 public elementary schools	10.8%		13.6	1108^th of 1242 public elementary schools	10.8%	5	12.8	21.5	27.5	15.4	18.2	9.8	22.0	$9,256	$699	$8,557
Livingston Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3657 Highway 81 S	Covington	30016	Newton County	Newton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 784-2930	420	31	13.3	86.7%	37 (8.8%)	308 (73.3%)	30 (7.1%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	38 (9.0%)	17.7	1047^th of 1248 public elementary schools	16.1%		13.2	1115^th of 1242 public elementary schools	10.2%	68	20.0	21.0	27.3	21.8	24.2	16.7	21.2	$11,615	$983	$10,632
Live Oak Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 Kirkland Rd	Covington	30016	Newton County	Newton County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 625-6654	922	63	14.6	84.9%	21 (2.3%)	795 (86.2%)	51 (5.5%)	7 (0.8%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	45 (4.9%)	13.4	1132^nd of 1248 public elementary schools	9.3%		17.6	1054^th of 1242 public elementary schools	15.1%	78	22.5	13.2	27.5	18.5	10.3	14.0	17.3	$8,757	$728	$8,029
West Newton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	13387 Brown Bridge Rd	Covington	30016	Newton County	Newton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 385-6472	650	44	14.7	86.9%	35 (5.4%)	449 (69.1%)	135 (20.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	26 (4.0%)	14.4	1105^th of 1248 public elementary schools	11.5%		21.1	988^th of 1242 public elementary schools	20.5%	117	11.2	26.5	27.8	12.4	17.3	14.3	15.5	$10,304	$1,029	$9,275
Porterdale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	45 Ram Dr	Covington	30014	Newton County	Newton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 784-2928	420	30	13.9	90.2%	31 (7.4%)	308 (73.3%)	48 (11.4%)	6 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.7%)	23 (5.5%)	24.4	937^th of 1248 public elementary schools	24.9%		12.6	1131^st of 1242 public elementary schools	8.9%	194	12.0	25.9	31.2	26.0	32.8	16.9	33.8	$11,339	$956	$10,383
Fairview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3325 Fairview Rd	Covington	30016	Newton County	Newton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 784-2959	597	36	16.7	90.1%	78 (13.1%)	375 (62.8%)	109 (18.3%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (4.4%)	18.3	1033^rd of 1248 public elementary schools	17.2%		18.3	1038^th of 1242 public elementary schools	16.4%	5	19.0	23.9	26.9	18.0	31.8	12.9	21.5	$11,770	$965	$10,805
Middle Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	11649 Covington By Pass Rd	Covington	30014	Newton County	Newton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 385-6463	593	45	13.1	100.0%	94 (15.9%)	380 (64.1%)	66 (11.1%)	5 (0.8%)	3 (0.5%)	5 (0.8%)	40 (6.7%)	16.7	1070^th of 1248 public elementary schools	14.3%		18.8	1027^th of 1242 public elementary schools	17.3%	43	15.7	14.1	30.3	19.1	16.3	17.2	29.3	$9,981	$914	$9,067
Peek's Chapel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2800 Avalon Pkwy	Conyers	30013	Rockdale County	Rockdale County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 761-1842	573	39	14.8	85.2%	10 (1.7%)	476 (83.1%)	46 (8.0%)	11 (1.9%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.5%)	31.2	828^th of 1248 public elementary schools	33.7%		23	958^th of 1242 public elementary schools	22.9%	130	21.0	25.8	47.0	17.5	23.6	27.0	39.0	$9,893	$442	$9,451
Oak Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6243 Highway 212	Covington	30016	Newton County	Newton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 385-6906	642	45	14.2	80.5%	123 (19.2%)	373 (58.1%)	92 (14.3%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	49 (7.6%)	35.2	769^th of 1248 public elementary schools	38.4%		32.2	806^th of 1242 public elementary schools	35.1%	37	15.3	30.7	42.0	23.5	45.5	29.4	35.3	$10,045	$727	$9,317
Barksdale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	596 Oglesby Bridge Rd SE	Conyers	30094	Rockdale County	Rockdale County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 483-9514	478	45	10.6	81.0%	74 (15.5%)	302 (63.2%)	69 (14.4%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (6.3%)	31.7	815^th of 1248 public elementary schools	34.7%		49.9	549^th of 1242 public elementary schools	55.8%	266	25.3	31.7	33.3	38.6	34.1	21.4	29.8	$10,816	$549	$10,266

Frequently Asked Questions about South Salem Elementary School

Is South Salem Elementary School a good school?

South Salem Elementary School ranks in the bottom 10.8% of Georgia elementary schools.

How many students attend South Salem Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 848 students attended South Salem Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of South Salem Elementary School?

Students at South Salem Elementary School are 64% African American, 14% White, 14% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of South Salem Elementary School attend?

Students who attend South Salem Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Liberty Middle School
High : Alcovy High School

What district is South Salem Elementary School in?

Newton County

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.