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Average

#645 of 1,793 schools in MA

Top 36% in state

Murphy K-8 School

Elementary School · Boston

1 Worrell Street, Dorchester, MA 02122

Enrollment

839

Student-Teacher

12.2:1

Score

6.9

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Massachusetts schools

#645 of 1,793

In Dorchester

#6 of 29

public schools

In district

#38 of 109

Boston

School environment

8.0 / 10

Excellent

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Murphy K-8 School

6.9/10

Elementary School in Dorchester · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Neighborhood House Charter School

5.3/10

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

Kenny Elementary School

5.3/10

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

About Murphy K-8 School

Murphy K-8 School is a public elementary school in Dorchester, MA, part of Boston. Murphy K-8 School serves approximately 839 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Murphy K-8 School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #645 of 1,793 schools in MA.

Structured state assessment records for Murphy K-8 School show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.9 · Average
  • District avg 6.7
  • MA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

32% of students at Murphy K-8 School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.2Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-1.66 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.3Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency35.2% (2025 MCAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency38.2% (2025 MCAS)
Math vs. State Avg-6.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-4.4 pts
Overall Proficiency37% (2025 MCAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)20% (model expectation from 2025 MCAS)
vs. Expected+16.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile60th
Resources & Environment8.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$37,200
Chronic Absenteeism31.5%

Murphy K-8 School — Students at Murphy K-8 School score 37% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 20%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores MA MCAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 41.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
42.4% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)
ELA Proficiency 45.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.5% (multi-year state average, 2018-2025)

Based on 130 test records from MA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
53%
ELA
58%
2010
Math
49%
ELA
56%
2011
Math
47%
ELA
54%
2012
Math
54%
ELA
56%
2013
Math
54%
ELA
57%
2014
Math
50%
ELA
64%
2015
Math
60%
ELA
66%
2016
Math
49%
ELA
43%
2017
Math
48%
ELA
49%
2018
Math
46.7%
ELA
47.6%
2019
Math
46.4%
ELA
52.7%
2020*
Math
36%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
33.9%
ELA
43.4%
2022
Math
36.6%
ELA
39.1%
2023
Math
37.8%
ELA
44.2%
2024
Math
35.2%
ELA
39.8%
2025
Math
35.2%
ELA
38.2%

* 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: 6.2/10.

How Murphy K-8 School Compares

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

Overall Score
6.9/10
64th percentile in MA
Academic
7.3/10
Very Good
Growth
6.2/10
Average
Environment
8.0/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
69 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
31.5%

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

1 Worrell Street, Dorchester, MA 02122

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Murphy K-8 School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Lower (rated 9.4/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is EPIPHANY SCHOOL (rated 8.0/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Dorchester Center), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Mather Elementary School (rated 7.3/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Dorchester, see our Dorchester schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Neighborhood House Charter School Dorchester 0.2 mi 5.3
Kenny Elementary School Dorchester 0.6 mi 5.3
Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy Charter Public School Boston 0.7 mi 4.9
ST BRENDAN SCHOOL Dorchester 0.8 mi 3.9
Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Lower Dorchester 0.7 mi 9.4
Community Academy of Science and Health Dorchester 0.8 mi 5.4
EPIPHANY SCHOOL Dorchester Center 0.9 mi 8.0
Mather Elementary School Dorchester 1.2 mi 7.3
CRISTO REY BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL Dorchester 1.3 mi 5.5
BOSTON COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL Dorchester 1.5 mi 8.5
Everett Elementary School Dorchester 1.5 mi 5.8
Codman Academy Charter Public School Dorchester 1.2 mi 6.1
UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester Boston 1.2 mi 6.7
Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Upper Dorchester 1.4 mi 3.9
Dever Elementary School Dorchester 1.7 mi 5.1
Lee Academy Dorchester 1.3 mi 6.7
North Quincy High Quincy 1.5 mi 7.3
ST JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC ACADEMY Dorchester Center 1.6 mi 4.8
ST JOHN PAUL LOWER MILLS Dorchester 1.6 mi 5.5
Holmes Elementary School Dorchester 1.4 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02122 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$82,945

Median Home Value

$656,400

Median Rent

$2,052/mo

Population

23,471

College Educated

37.5%

Homeownership

43.7%

Avg Commute

33.2 min

Poverty Rate

14.7%

Median Age

36.6

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Freeman-Kennedy School Norfolk, MA 6.9
Johnny Appleseed Leominster, MA 6.9
Caleb Dustin Hunking School Haverhill, MA 7.0
East Taunton Elementary East Taunton, MA 7.0
Elmwood Hopkinton, MA 7.0
Millbury Street Elementary School Grafton, MA 7.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Murphy K-8 School

What grades does Murphy K-8 School serve?

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

How many students attend Murphy K-8 School?

Murphy K-8 School has an enrollment of approximately 839 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Murphy K-8 School is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Murphy K-8 School rank in MA?

Murphy K-8 School ranks #645 of 1,793 schools in MA.

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

Murphy K-8 School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 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 Murphy K-8 School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Murphy K-8 School has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Murphy K-8 School a charter school?

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

Is Murphy K-8 School a Title I school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
78 Very Walkable
Transit Score
52 Good Transit
Bike Score
74 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
839
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
69
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Suffolk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
31.5%

District

Boston
District Enrollment
45,742
Schools in District
109
Per-Pupil Spending
$37,200
District Rank
#38 of 109

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