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Excellent

#215 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 12% in state

Murphy Creek K-8 School

Elementary School · Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A

1400 S OLD TOM MORRIS ROAD, Aurora, CO 80018

Enrollment

784

Student-Teacher

17.4:1

Score

8.1

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Aurora

#6 of 100

public schools

Colorado elementary schools

#173 of 1,006

In district

#2 of 56

Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A

Equity

9.5 / 10

Exceptional

About Murphy Creek K-8 School

Murphy Creek K-8 School is a public elementary school in Aurora, CO, part of the Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A. The school serves approximately 784 students in grades Pre-K – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 17.4:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1/10, placing it in the 88.2th percentile among CO schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 50% proficiency in math, 13 points above the state average and 58% in reading/language arts, 12 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.0/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $127,390, where 40% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a fringe rural setting.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Murphy Creek K-8 School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.0Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+0.75 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.1Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency53.3%
Reading/ELA Proficiency57.9%
Math vs. State Avg+17.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+13 pts
Overall Proficiency56%
Expected (poverty-adj.)34%
vs. Expected+21.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile86th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment6.9Above Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,319

Murphy Creek K-8 School — Students at Murphy Creek K-8 School score 56% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

55.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 50.2%
School
State
37.4%
ELA Proficiency 57.7%
School
State
45.5%

Based on 19 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
48%
ELA
56%
2021*
Math
37%
ELA
57%
2022
Math
43%
2025
Math
53.5%
ELA
58.1%

* 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: 8.0/10.

How Murphy Creek K-8 School Compares

See how Murphy Creek K-8 School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.1/10
88th percentile in CO
Academic
9.1/10
9.1/10
Growth
8.0/10
Above average
Environment
6.9/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
56%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
45 teachers

Location

1400 S OLD TOM MORRIS ROAD, Aurora, CO 80018

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Murphy Creek K-8 School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Harmony Ridge P-8 (rated 8.3/10, 2.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Aspen Crossing Elementary School (rated 7.4/10, 4.6 miles away, in nearby Centennial), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Clyde Miller K-8 (rated 7.3/10, 4.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Aurora, see our Aurora schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Vista Peak P-8 Exploratory Aurora 2.0 mi 6.9
Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory Aurora 2.3 mi 5.5
Harmony Ridge P-8 Aurora 2.8 mi 8.3
Aurora Frontier K-8 Aurora 2.9 mi 4.7
Side Creek Elementary School Aurora 3.0 mi 4.8
Dakota Valley Elementary School Aurora 3.6 mi 7.2
Mountain Vista Elementary School Centennial 4.1 mi 6.3
Arrowhead Elementary School Aurora 3.5 mi 5.5
Sunrise Elementary School Aurora 4.1 mi 5.4
Sky Vista Middle School Aurora 4.4 mi 4.8
PEACE WITH CHRIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Aurora 4.0 mi 6.7
Buffalo Trail Elementary School Aurora 4.8 mi 5.5
Vassar Elementary School Aurora 3.8 mi 5.6
CHRIST OUR REDEEMER LUTHERAN SCHOOL Aurora 3.8 mi 4.2
Infinity Middle School Aurora 4.8 mi 6.9
Eaglecrest High School Centennial 4.8 mi 7.7
Aspen Crossing Elementary School Centennial 4.6 mi 7.4
Rangeview High School Aurora 3.9 mi 6.2
Clyde Miller K-8 Aurora 4.6 mi 7.3
Mrachek Middle School Aurora 3.9 mi 5.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80018 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$127,390

Median Home Value

$558,800

Median Rent

$2,542/mo

Population

17,129

College Educated

39.9%

Homeownership

88.9%

Avg Commute

29.7 min

Poverty Rate

5.1%

Median Age

34.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Murphy Creek K-8 School has a median household income of $127,390. It is a well-educated community where 40% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $558,800, with a median rent of $2,542/month. The local poverty rate of 5.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Challenge to Excellence Charter School Parker, CO 8.1
North Star Academy Parker, CO 8.1
Pine Grove Elementary School Parker, CO 8.1
Sage Canyon Elementary Castle Rock, CO 8.1
Willow Elementary School Denver, CO 8.1
Aspen Creek K-8 School Broomfield, CO 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Murphy Creek K-8 School

What grades does Murphy Creek K-8 School serve?

Murphy Creek K-8 School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Murphy Creek K-8 School?

Murphy Creek K-8 School has an enrollment of approximately 784 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Murphy Creek K-8 School?

The student-teacher ratio at Murphy Creek K-8 School is 17.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Murphy Creek K-8 School rank in CO?

Murphy Creek K-8 School is ranked #215 out of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Murphy Creek K-8 School's MySchoolScout rating?

Murphy Creek K-8 School has a composite rating of 8.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Murphy Creek K-8 School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Murphy Creek K-8 School has 50.2% math proficiency and 57.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Murphy Creek K-8 School a charter school?

No, Murphy Creek K-8 School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Murphy Creek K-8 School a Title I school?

No, Murphy Creek K-8 School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Murphy Creek K-8 School?

55.5% of students at Murphy Creek K-8 School 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
14 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
0 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,074/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Aurora). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
784
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
45
Free/Reduced Lunch
55.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Arapahoe County
Data Year
2023–2024

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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