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Below Average

#7619 of 9,539 schools in CA

Murray Middle

Middle School · Sierra Sands Unified

200 East Drummond Ave., Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Enrollment

686

Student-Teacher

22.9:1

Score

4.8

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#7,619 of 9,539

In Ridgecrest

#5 of 10

public schools

In district

#6 of 10

Sierra Sands Unified

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Murray Middle

4.8/10

Middle School in Ridgecrest · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Burroughs High

6.3/10

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

Richmond Elementary

5.9/10

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

About Murray Middle

Murray Middle is a public middle school in Ridgecrest, CA, part of Sierra Sands Unified. Murray Middle serves approximately 686 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 22.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Murray Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #7,619 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Murray Middle show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 4.8 · Below Average
  • District avg 4.5
  • CA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Murray Middle runs 22.9:1 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 Progress5.2Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.69 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics4.5Below Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency23.2% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency34.8% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-11.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-11.1 pts
Overall Proficiency29% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-16.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile26th
Resources & Environment4.5Below Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,168
Chronic Absenteeism29.3%

Murray Middle — Students at Murray Middle score 29% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

51%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 35.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
33.9% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 47.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
46.6% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 34 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
49%
ELA
53%
2010
Math
49%
ELA
54%
2011
Math
53%
ELA
60%
2012
Math
54%
ELA
61%
2014
Math
38%
ELA
58%
2015
Math
39%
ELA
50%
2016
Math
40%
ELA
54%
2017
Math
35%
ELA
47%
2018
Math
36%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
36%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
26%
ELA
41%
2021*
Math
26%
ELA
41%
2022
Math
23.8%
ELA
43.9%
2024
Math
23.3%
ELA
34.9%

* 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: 5.2/10.

How Murray Middle Compares

See how Murray Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.8/10
20th percentile in CA
Academic
4.5/10
Below Average
Growth
5.2/10
Average
Environment
4.5/10
Below Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
51%
Teaching Staff
23:1 student-teacher ratio
30 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
29.3%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

200 East Drummond Ave., Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Murray Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. ST ANN SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is IMMANUEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 7.0/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Burroughs High (rated 6.3/10, 0.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Ridgecrest, see our Ridgecrest schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Burroughs High Ridgecrest 0.1 mi 6.3
Richmond Elementary Ridgecrest 0.3 mi 5.9
Pierce Elementary Ridgecrest 0.5 mi 3.1
Mesquite Continuation High Ridgecrest 0.6 mi 4.8
St. Thomas Ridgecrest 0.7 mi
HERITAGE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Ridgecrest 0.7 mi 5.9
IMMANUEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ridgecrest 0.9 mi 7.0
Ridgecrest Montessori Children's House Ridgecrest 0.9 mi
RIDGECREST ADVENTIST ELEMENTARY Ridgecrest 1.2 mi
Ridgecrest Adventist Elementary Ridgecrest 1.2 mi
James Monroe Middle Ridgecrest 1.4 mi 4.3
St. Ann Ridgecrest 1.5 mi
Las Flores Elementary Ridgecrest 1.3 mi 5.0
ST ANN SCHOOL Ridgecrest 1.5 mi 7.2
Gateway Elementary Ridgecrest 1.6 mi 4.5
Balas Montessori Home School Ridgecrest 1.6 mi
Long Point Academy Ridgecrest 1.5 mi
HERITAGE MONTESSORI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ridgecrest 1.6 mi
Ridgecrest Elem Acad for Language Music and Sci Ridgecrest 2.0 mi 4.7
Calvary Christian School Ridgecrest 2.9 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 93555 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$84,141

Median Home Value

$235,400

Median Rent

$1,180/mo

Population

33,629

College Educated

30.5%

Homeownership

62.7%

Avg Commute

16.3 min

Poverty Rate

12.1%

Median Age

35.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Alder Middle Fontana, CA 4.8
Barbara Worth Junior High Brawley, CA 4.8
Buena Park Middle Buena Park, CA 4.8
Chemawa Middle Riverside, CA 4.8
Desert Springs Middle Desert Hot Springs, CA 4.8
Isbell Middle Santa Paula, CA 4.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Murray Middle

What grades does Murray Middle serve?

Murray Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Murray Middle?

Murray Middle has an enrollment of approximately 686 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Murray Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Murray Middle is 22.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Murray Middle rank in CA?

Murray Middle ranks #7,619 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Murray Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Murray Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 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 Murray Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Murray Middle has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Murray Middle a charter school?

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

Is Murray Middle a Title I school?

No, Murray Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Murray Middle?

51.0% of students at Murray Middle 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
25 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
65 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
686
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Free/Reduced Lunch
51.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Kern County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
29.3%

District

Sierra Sands Unified
District Enrollment
5,122
Schools in District
11
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,168
District Rank
#6 of 10

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