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Needs Improvement

#9053 of 9,539 schools in CA

Murdock Elementary

Elementary School · Willows Unified

655 West French St., Willows, CA 95988

Enrollment

592

Student-Teacher

21.1:1

Score

3.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#9,053 of 9,539

In Willows

#5 of 5

public schools

In district

#3 of 3

Willows Unified

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Murdock Elementary

3.5/10

Elementary School in Willows · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Willows High

6.5/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Walden Academy

7.5/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Murdock Elementary

Murdock Elementary is a public elementary school in Willows, CA, part of Willows Unified. Murdock Elementary serves approximately 592 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Murdock Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10 and ranks #9,053 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Murdock Elementary show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 28% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares2.7 pts below CA schools
  • This school 3.5 · Needs Improvement
  • CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Murdock Elementary runs 21.1:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.8Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.46 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics2.7Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency13.8% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency13.5% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-31.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-29.3 pts
Overall Proficiency14% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)30% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-16.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile9th
Resources & Environment6.6Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio21.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,978
Chronic Absenteeism23.5%

Murdock Elementary — Students at Murdock Elementary score 14% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

78.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 27.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
39.4% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 28.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.3% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 36 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
53%
ELA
42%
2010
Math
42%
ELA
36%
2011
Math
44%
ELA
42%
2012
Math
45%
ELA
41%
2013
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2014
Math
14%
ELA
23%
2015
Math
22%
ELA
27%
2016
Math
23%
ELA
19%
2017
Math
24%
ELA
27%
2018
Math
22%
ELA
28%
2019
Math
22%
ELA
28%
2020*
Math
17%
ELA
22%
2021*
Math
17%
ELA
22%
2022
Math
18.6%
ELA
17.5%
2024
Math
13.9%
ELA
13.6%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.8/10.

How Murdock Elementary Compares

See how Murdock Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.5/10
5th percentile in CA
Academic
2.7/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
2.8/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
6.6/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
78%
Teaching Staff
21:1 student-teacher ratio
28 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
23.5%

Location

655 West French St., Willows, CA 95988

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Murdock Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Plaza Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 13.7 miles away, in nearby Orland), which scores notably higher. Another option is Lake Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 16.9 miles away, in nearby Orland), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Walden Academy (rated 7.5/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Willows, see our Willows schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 17.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Willows High Willows 0.3 mi 6.5
Walden Academy Willows 0.4 mi 7.5
Willows Community High Willows 0.6 mi
Glenn County Special Education Willows 0.8 mi 4.3
Willows Intermediate Willows 0.9 mi 4.7
RIVER VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Glenn 10.4 mi 4.8
Plaza Elementary Orland 13.7 mi 8.0
Fairview Elementary Orland 14.7 mi 3.6
Price Intermediate Orland 14.8 mi 4.6
Mill Street Elementary Orland 15.1 mi 4.9
Success One! Orland 15.3 mi 4.9
Providence Christian School (dba) Orland 15.3 mi
William Finch Orland 15.4 mi 6.3
Orland High Orland 15.5 mi 5.6
Princeton Elementary Princeton 13.2 mi 4.4
Princeton High Princeton 13.4 mi 6.5
North Valley High (Continuation) Orland 15.8 mi 5.5
Lake View Charter Orangevale 16.9 mi 6.4
Lake Elementary Orland 16.9 mi 7.9
Maxwell Elementary Maxwell 17.1 mi 7.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 95988 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$78,913

Median Home Value

$299,300

Median Rent

$1,171/mo

Population

9,060

College Educated

19%

Homeownership

56.7%

Avg Commute

20.4 min

Poverty Rate

14%

Median Age

34.9

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Aspire Alexander Twilight College Preparatory Academy Oakland, CA 3.5
August Knodt Elementary Manteca, CA 3.5
Barnett Elementary Ramona, CA 3.5
Cedar Lane Elementary Olivehurst, CA 3.5
Charlotte N. Werner Elementary Rialto, CA 3.5
Citrus Glen Elementary Ventura, CA 3.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Murdock Elementary

What grades does Murdock Elementary serve?

Murdock Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Murdock Elementary?

Murdock Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 592 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Murdock Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Murdock Elementary is 21.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Murdock Elementary rank in CA?

Murdock Elementary ranks #9,053 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Murdock Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Murdock Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Murdock Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Murdock Elementary has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 28% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Murdock Elementary a charter school?

No, Murdock Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Murdock Elementary a Title I school?

No, Murdock Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Murdock Elementary?

78.2% of students at Murdock Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
56 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
46 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
592
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
28
Free/Reduced Lunch
78.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
Glenn County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.5%

District

Willows Unified
District Enrollment
1,357
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,978
District Rank
#3 of 3

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