Until 2022, Salem was an International Baccalaureate world school, certified for the Diploma Programme.

Salem competed in the now defunct Group AAA Roanoke Valley District in the AAA Northwest Region when it was opened but dropped down to the Group AA Blue Ridge District in 1988, a few years after Glenvar's student population left.

Salem has won VHSL state championships in athletic and academic competitions.

Salem won the VHSL's Wachovia Cup in Group AA for academic competitions in the 2009-2010 school year.

Additionally, they won the Hampton Roads District Event in 2018 and were the Miami Valley Regional Champions in 2019.