Best Schools in Murphy, North Carolina
12 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High
Choosing a school in Murphy?
Use this page to compare every school in Murphy by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Hiwassee Dam High
High · Cherokee County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Tri-County Early College High
High · Cherokee County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Murphy Elementary
Elementary · Cherokee County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Murphy for 2026 are Hiwassee Dam High (8.0/10), Tri-County Early College High (7.8/10), and Murphy Elementary (7.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
12
10 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$219,800
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
12
10 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$219,800
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +9.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Murphy schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Murphy
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (10 rated schools; 12 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hiwassee Dam High | 8.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Tri-County Early College High | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Murphy Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Peachtree Elementary | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Ranger Elementary/middle | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Murphy High | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle | 5.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Martins Creek Elementary/mid | 5.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Murphy Middle | 4.9 / 10 |
| 10 | The Oaks Academy | 4.8 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $52,669
- Median home value
- $219,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 84%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Murphy compares
North Carolina rank
#100 of 255
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above North Carolina avg (6.3)
Median household income
$53k
78% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
10
Cherokee County Schools runs Murphy's public schools
10 public schools. Cherokee County Schools is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Murphy is a Cherokee County Schools school (10 of 10).
Among 10 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.8 to 8.0 — the spread is inside Murphy, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Murphy, North Carolina
Murphy, North Carolina serves families through 10 ranked public schools, and the district punches above its small-town size when it comes to school quality. The system averages 6.7 out of 10 across all ranked schools — a solid baseline for a rural mountain community — and half of those schools score 7.0 or higher. That 50% rate means parents here have real options at the upper end of the performance range, not just one standout surrounded by also-rans.
The elementary tier is where Murphy's schools shine brightest. Peachtree Elementary leads the entire city with a 9.1 out of 10, making it one of the strongest individual schools a family in this area can access. Ranger Elementary/Middle follows at 8.6, offering a combined elementary-middle model that keeps students in a high-performing environment through the middle grades. Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle scores 7.2 and runs a similar combined structure, giving families in that attendance zone a strong K-8 option. Murphy Elementary rounds out the top five at 7.1. Four of the five top-ranked schools in this city are elementary or combined elementary-middle campuses, so families with younger children have particularly strong choices available.
The secondary picture is more limited but still serviceable. Hiwassee Dam High School scores 7.5, landing it in the top tier and making it the city's best high school option. Parents should note that the high school landscape in Murphy is smaller than the elementary one, so checking your specific attendance zone matters — not all students who attend a high-performing elementary will feed into the highest-rated high school.
For families researching Murphy, the practical takeaway is clear: prioritize Peachtree Elementary if elementary access is your primary concern, as its 9.1 rating stands well above the city average. The Ranger and Hiwassee Dam combined schools are strong alternatives for families whose addresses fall outside Peachtree's zone. With half the city's schools clearing the 7.0 threshold, Murphy offers a more competitive public school landscape than its remote location might suggest.
Elementary Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 516 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | 168 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 | ||
| 3 | 277 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.6 | ||
| 4 | 121 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.8 | ||
| 5 | 190 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.0 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Shepherd AcademyPrivate 22 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 297 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 19 students · 1st–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 141 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 153 students · 9th–UG | 7.8 |
| 3 | 433 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 |
| 4 | 52 students · 6th–12th | 4.8 |
Schools in Murphy
Murphy, North Carolina · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$52,669
Median Home Value
$219,800
Median Rent
$872/mo
Population
19,712
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
84%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
12.4%
Community Profile
Murphy has a median household income of $52,669. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $219,800, with a median rent of $872/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.4%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 4
Resources
School District
Other Major Cities in North Carolina
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Murphy, North Carolina
How many schools are in Murphy, North Carolina?
Murphy has 12 schools, including 10 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Murphy, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Murphy is 6.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Murphy, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Murphy on MySchoolScout is Hiwassee Dam High with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Murphy, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Murphy on MySchoolScout is Murphy Elementary with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Murphy, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Murphy on MySchoolScout is Murphy Middle with a composite score of 4.9/10.
What is the best high school in Murphy, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Murphy on MySchoolScout is Hiwassee Dam High with a composite score of 8.0/10.
How many school districts serve Murphy, North Carolina?
Murphy is served by 1 school district: Cherokee County Schools.
What is the education level in Murphy, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Murphy have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Murphy, North Carolina?
The median household income in Murphy is approximately $52,669 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Murphy, North Carolina?
Yes, Murphy has 2 private schools alongside 10 public schools.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Murphy, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Murphy is 11.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Murphy, North Carolina?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
- Moving to Raleigh-Durham? A Parent's Guide to School Choice in the Triangleguides
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.