Average
#1651 of 2,648 schools in NC
Murphy Middle
Middle School · Cherokee County Schools · Murphy, NC
A Cherokee County Schools middle school where students score 5 points above what's typical for similar communities.
65 Middle School Drive, Murphy, NC 28906
- Math 45% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 56% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Murphy Middle score 51% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 6 points since 2020, reaching 51% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 49% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Murphy Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 31Car-Dependent
- Bike 10Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated1,250/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$52,669
Median home value
$219,800
Median rent
$872/mo
College educated
24.4%
Homeownership
84%
Poverty rate
12.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28906; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 in Cherokee County Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrews MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | 6–8 | Not available | 190 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Cherokee County Schools
- Schools in district
- 13
- Rank in district
- #10 of 13
- District spending per student
- $14,303NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 24.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Murphy Middle is listed in Cherokee County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Murphy Middle
Murphy Middle is a public middle school in Murphy, NC, part of Cherokee County Schools, serving approximately 297 students in grades 6th-8th with a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,651 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Murphy Middle
What grades does Murphy Middle serve?
Murphy Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Murphy Middle?
Murphy Middle has an enrollment of approximately 297 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Murphy Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Murphy Middle is 15.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Murphy Middle rank in NC?
Murphy Middle ranks #1,651 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Murphy Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Murphy Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 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 Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Murphy Middle has 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Murphy Middle a charter school?
No, Murphy Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Murphy Middle a Title I school?
No, Murphy Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Murphy Middle?
99.0% of students at Murphy 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 297
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Cherokee County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 49.8%
- Phone
- (828) 837-0160
- Area population (ZIP 28906)
- 19,712
- Area average commute
- 26.6 min
- Area median age
- 56.1
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28906; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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