A method, system, and computer program product for local DRAM caching of storage class memory elements are provided. The method identifies a cache line with a cache address in a local dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). The cache line is compressed within the local DRAM to generate a compressed cache line and an open memory space within the local DRAM. A cache tag is generated in the open memory space and a validation value is generated in the open memory space for the compressed cache line. The method determines a cache-hit for the cache line based on the cache address, the cache tag, and the validation value.