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| Overview of Salem City Schools |
| Home • Alpha.
Directory • Alumni • Bus
Routes • Calendars • Contact
Us • School
Board • Superintendent • Webmail
|
|
| Overview of Salem City Schools |
| Home • Alpha.
Directory • Alumni • Bus
Routes • Calendars • Contact
Us • School
Board • Superintendent • Webmail
|
Curriculum: General Return
to Top
The curriculum at all levels (K-12) seeks to foster
the growth and
development of each student’s intellectual, vocational, social, physical,
and emotional capabilities.
The school division, in addition to the basic program of studies, also
offers outstanding programs for gifted students, and
remedial assistance for students having deficiencies in reading, language,
mathematics, science, history, and social science.
A wide variety of special services is available. Specialized staff includes
school psychologists, school nurses, speech
pathologists, a vision teacher, physical therapists, occupational therapists,
and visiting teachers.
There are trained guidance counselors and librarians in all Salem schools.
They work closely with students, parents, and
teachers.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program and family life education
are provided to help students cope with
pressures of today’s society. A week-long summer DARE camp, sponsored
by the City of Salem, is available to all sixth-grade students.
The elementary school curriculum is based on state Standards of Learning
to give students a foundation in reading, writing,
mathematics, science, and history. Art, guidance, music, and physical
education are also integral parts of the elementary school
program. Each elementary school is accredited by the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools and the state of Virginia.
Salem is proud of its Reading Recovery program at all elementary schools.
This program is an intensive early intervention effort
to reach those first grade children who are having the most difficulty
learning to read and write. Designed to accelerate
children’s learning, this program helps them catch up with their peers
and become independent learners.
Other programs include an Accelerated Reader Program that encourages
students to read widely, as well as summer programs
such as art camps, computer camps, and programs for developmentally
delayed and academically at-risk youngsters.
Curriculum: Middle School Return
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The Andrew Lewis Middle School staff has tailored an instructional program
to prepare and challenge students in grades 6-8.
Emphasis is placed on the core academic areas of English, reading,
mathematics, science, and history/social science. Providing
each student with a well rounded education, however, is accomplished
by providing diverse course offerings that include health
and physical education, and elective/exploratory courses such as: art;
foreign languages; keyboarding; music; teen living; study
skills; law; technology education; and Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(DARE).
Interdisciplinary teams of teachers in each grade provide rigorous instruction
in the core curriculum. Team teaching promotes
instruction that highlights the connections between the disciplines,
which makes the Standards of Learning (SOL’s) more
relevant and meaningful to the student.
Advanced courses provide students with the opportunity to earn several
high school credits while in the seventh and eighth
grades. Advanced courses include Keyboarding, Introduction to Computers,
Algebra I, Algebra I & Part II, World
Geography, French, German, Latin, and Spanish. In the eighth grade,
students begin the transition to the high school – a
process that is completed by special transition programs in the ninth
grade.
Curriculum: High School Return
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Salem High School is a comprehensive high school that enrolls students
in grades 9-12. The program of studies includes over
150 course offerings; academic, vocational, advanced placement, and
the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. The
Governor’s School for Science and Technology, which is located in Roanoke
City, offers high-achieving students a unique
opportunity to acquire an accelerated baseline knowledge in advanced
technology. Also, college credit can be earned from
Virginia Western Community College through a program of dual-enrollment
classes held at Salem High School.
Salem High is one of 14 high schools located in the Commonwealth of
Virginia that offers the International Baccalaureate
Degree Program. This program provides the serious student an opportunity
to receive college credit, as well as earn a diploma
that is recognized by colleges and universities throughout the world.
The vocational education program at Salem High is an integral part of
the high school curriculum. There are seven vocational
areas in which a student may specialize: Business Education, Early
Childhood Education, Marketing Education, Microcomputer
Systems, Technology Education, Trade and Industrial Education, and
Professional Cooking, Salem students may also attend
Roanoke County’s Arnold R. Burton Vocational - Technology Center.
The primary purpose of vocational education is to prepare students for
gainful employment upon graduation from high school.
Many area businesses cooperate with Salem High School by employing
students enrolled in vocational education programs.
Salem High is equipped with the latest technology to enhance the instructional
program. There are more than 250 personal
computers in laboratories and individual classrooms connected by a
high-speed network; students receive individual and group
instruction.
The high school is served by a satellite receiver, telephone, and transmitter
to enable students and staff to participate in
teleconferences. Research is facilitated by means of a T3 computer
link with Roanoke College, which provides Internet
connections worldwide; the Virginia High School Network; and Virginia
Pen, a network among school divisions.
Salem High students distinguish themselves in a comprehensive program
of interscholastic athletics, including baseball,
basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming,
tennis, track, volleyball, lacrosse, and
wrestling.
Extracurricular activities include musical and drama productions, forensic
competitions, cheerleading, marching and concert
bands, choir, debating, newspaper, literary magazine, yearbook, Student
Council Association, National Honor Society, and
special interest clubs.
Special Education Return
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Salem schools provide Special Education Programs designed to meet the
specific needs to eligible students with disabilities
form the age of two through twenty-one. Special education may be provided
in a variety of ways, such as in a regular
classroom, special classroom, resource room, or a combination of regular
and special classrooms.
Eligibility for Special Education is based on the results of a comprehensive
evaluation. Four assessment components –
educational, medical, psychological, and sociocultural – are reviewed
by an eligibility committee to determine if a child meets
the criteria for placement in a special program. Students who are identified
disabled must be classified as one of the following:
For additional information, please contact the Director of Student Services
at 389-0130.
Continuing Education Return
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Salem schools offer a number of courses for those who wish to complete
a high school education, to develop vocational or
technical skills, or to improve their general or vocational education.
Please call the office of the Director of Instruction at 389-0130 for additional information.
Transportation Return
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Salem schools provide free transportation to and from school during
the regular term for all students who live within the
boundaries of Salem. Also, Salem schools provide transportation to
several daycare centers that are located on school bus
routes.
The school transportation program plays an important role in the educational
process. School bus drivers are special people
who provide friendly links between home and school.
In addition to providing students transportation to and from school,
buses transport students on educational filed trips, and to
music, band, and sports events.
Enrollment Requirements Return
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Virginia state law requires all children who reach their sixth birthday
on or before September 30, or who have not passed their
eighteenth birthday, to attend school. In order to enroll a child,
the parent must present the child’s birth certificate and
immunization record to the school. A child may be enrolled in kindergarten
if he/she is five on or before September 30.
Students who transfer from other school systems are asked to report
to the office of their new school with their parents or
court-appointed guardian. Parents will complete enrollment forms, including
a form authorizing the transfer of their child’s
records.
Community Involvement Return
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Salem schools recognize the positive impact that business and the community
have on the schools. Businesses make significant
contributions to the schools by working closely with student teachers,
linking with vocational education, serving on advisory
committees, providing classroom resources, and promoting community
pride in the schools.
In our ever-changing, complex society, partnerships between school and
business help bring about improvements and renewed
community awareness of the needs of the school system. Two primary
opportunities for business involvement in the Salem
schools are the Workforce Endorsement Agreement and the Business Roundtable.
Parent Involvement Return
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Salem PTA units and the Salem PTA Council provide an important link
between the school system and the community, serving
as a strong advocate for public education.
We believe that parents can make a difference in the educational process.
Salem schools are committed to involving parents
with meaningful opportunities for educational impact and in decisions
that guide the future direction of our schools.
Parent volunteers are involved in many facets of the school program,
including assisting teachers in the classroom, serving as
library aides, performing clerical duties, working as room parents,
and participating on committees.
Volunteers are welcomed by the school staff. If you are interested in serving, please contact the schools.
Non-Resident Students Return
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Nonresident students may be accepted on a tuition basis for a nominal
fee. Interested students must make application and
provide the central office with transcripts and standardized test data.
Students are screened on the basis of space availability,
satisfactory school progress, attendance, and behavior. Nonresident
students are required to submit applications annually.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting the schools or
by calling the office of the Assistant Superintendent at
389-0130.
Community Use of Facilities Return
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The use of facilities for school-related activities such as scouting,
Parent-Teacher Association functions, and other
school-sponsored activities is generally permitted without charge.
School facilities are also available after normal school hours for non-school-related
activities. To arrange for use of a school
and to ascertain applicable fees, contact the principal or call the
Assistant Superintendent at 389-0130.
Fast Facts About Salem Schools Return
to Top
Student Achievement
Students above state and national averages on Stanford Achievement
and Standards of Learning tests at all grade levels.
Extracurricular Programs
Budget and Business Services