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West Salem Ohio City HallPhoto: Roseohioresident · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in West Salem · Northwestern Local School District

West Salem’s public schools outscore 72% of Ohio districts

Math proficiency in West Salem’s districts is 63%, above the Ohio average (52%). The grade covers the public school district serving West Salem, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Ohio, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Ohio state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
71%
▲ 12 pts vs OH 60%
2021–22
Math proficiency
63%
▲ 11 pts vs OH 52%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 4–8 pts vs OH 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.2K
▼ 14% vs OH $16.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.5
OH 16.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
1,243 students on the public path
In brief

West Salem’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 71% and math 63% in spring 2022, against 60% and 52% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,241 per student, against $16,610 across Ohio (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Northwestern Middle School, then Northwestern High School. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind West Salem’s grade

B+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

B+: better than 72% of Ohio school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the Ohio average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Ohio school districts we grade (910)Better than 72%
Lower resultsHigher results
Ohio towns with similar household incomes (1313)Better than 71%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 656 test results and a graduating class of 109 could put West Salem anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of West Salem’s students in the tested grades sat them (651 in math, 662 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve West Salem, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Northwestern Elementary SchoolNorthwestern Local School DistrictA
6–8Northwestern Middle SchoolNorthwestern Local School DistrictB−
9–12Northwestern High SchoolNorthwestern Local School DistrictB

West Salem’s public schools are run by Northwestern Local School District, which also serves Chester, Congress and Congress. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Northwestern Local School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,243 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 15.5 per teacher (OH 16.9)
$14,241OH $16,610 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading71%
State average 59.5% · 662 students tested
Math63%
State average 52.2% · 651 students tested

West Salem vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Ohio towns that share West Salem’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
West SalemB+Northwestern Local

Every school in West Salem

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Ohio’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving West Salemin other towns
Northwestern Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A
632 students17:1Rate it →
Northwestern Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
284 students15:1Rate it →
Northwestern High School
High · Grades 9–12
B
327 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about West Salem’s schools

Are West Salem’s schools good?

By Ohio’s own tests, yes: the public schools West Salem children attend outscore 72% of Ohio’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 71%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is West Salem in?

Northwestern Local School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,243 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do West Salem kids go to high school?

Northwestern High School, with 327 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is West Salem’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Northwestern Local School District graduated in four years, against 86% across Ohio.

How much does West Salem spend per student?

$14,241 in Northwestern Local School District (FY2024), against $16,610 across Ohio. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What West Salem families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near West Salem → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Ohio. Stars are from neighbors.