Murphey Candler Elementary School

Summary:

Murphey Candler Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Lithonia, Georgia, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 528. The school is part of the DeKalb County School District, which is ranked 138 out of 203 districts in Georgia and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. Murphey Candler Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of Georgia elementary schools, with a ranking between 1017 and 1154 out of around 1200-1250 schools over the past 10 years, and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Murphey Candler Elementary School consistently underperforms compared to the DeKalb County and Georgia state averages on the Milestones Assessments in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 18.1% of 3rd graders, 22% of 4th graders, and 29.1% of 5th graders were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 31.6%, 30.5%, and 40.8% for DeKalb County, respectively. The school's math proficiency rates are also significantly lower than the county and state, ranging from 11.1% to 21.7% across the grade levels, compared to 32.1% to 34.3% for DeKalb County. Murphey Candler Elementary has extremely high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, with 100% of students qualifying in the 2022-2023 and 2020-2021 school years, indicating a high-poverty student population.

When comparing Murphey Candler Elementary to the other nearby schools in the DeKalb County district, as well as schools in the Rockdale County and Henry County districts, it consistently underperforms on test scores. For instance, in 2023-2024, Murphey Candler's 3rd grade ELA proficiency rate of 18.1% is significantly lower than the 20.8% at Fairington Elementary, 16.9% at Stoneview Elementary, and 22.2% at Browns Mill Elementary. Murphey Candler's performance is also much lower than the 19% at Sims Elementary (Rockdale County), 26.2% at Shoal Creek Elementary (Rockdale County), and 23.1% at Austin Road Elementary (Henry County). This persistent low performance suggests a need for significant interventions and support to improve student achievement at Murphey Candler Elementary School.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

6775 S Goddard Rd
Lithonia, GA 30038

(678) 676-9102

District: DeKalb County

SchoolDigger Rank:
1038^th of 1,248 Georgia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,611

Student/teacher ratio: 15.1

Number of students: 496

Racial breakdown:

African American:

90.7%

Hispanic:

4.6%

Two or more races:

3.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Compare Murphey Candler Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Murphey Candler Elementary School ranks worse than 83.2% of elementary schools in Georgia. It also ranks 47^th among 79 ranked elementary schools in the DeKalb County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 18.04. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (90.7%), Hispanic (4.6%), two or more races (3.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Murphey Candler Elementary School is 15.1. 54 elementary schools in the DeKalb County School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Murphey Candler Elementary School employs 32.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Murphey Candler Elementary School is $12,611, which is the 33^rd highest among 79 elementary schools in the DeKalb County School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Murphey Candler Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

DeKalb County:

SchoolDigger ranks DeKalb County 138^th of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Murphey Candler Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	GA State Percentile
2006	33.21	821^st	1101	25.4%
2007	35.34	837^th	1125	25.6%
2008	24.47	957^th	1134	15.6%
2009	20.59	986^th	1133	13.0%
2010	15.48	1067^th	1183	9.8%
2011	9.87	1133^rd	1212	6.5%
2012	10.52	1111^th	1201	7.5%
2013	10.16	1123^rd	1225	8.3%
2014	9.55	1139^th	1231	7.5%
2015	19.55	1017^th	1240	18.0%
2016	11.03	1149^th	1233	6.8%
2017	8.43	1153^rd	1205	4.3%
2018	8.83	1154^th	1209	4.5%
2019	10.46	1134^th	1234	8.1%
2021	15.11	1046^th	1214	13.8%
2022	16.20	1050^th	1244	15.6%
2023	16.54	1074^th	1242	13.5%
2024	18.04	1038^th	1248	16.8%

See the entire list of Georgia Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Georgia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Murphey Candler Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	640	640
1991	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	667	667
1992	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	480	480
1993	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	439	439
1994	104	299	5	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	409
1995	48	500	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	553
1996	48	500	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	553
1997	52	546	1	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	605
1998	43	550	3	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	599
1999	30	637	1	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	676
2000	15	703	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	721
2001	12	789	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	806
2002	14	934	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	953
2003	14	934	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	953
2004	10	894	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	909
2005	6	911	3	10	0	n/a	n/a	22	952
2006	4	847	1	11	2	n/a	n/a	13	878
2007	5	847	3	7	0	n/a	n/a	17	879
2008	1	553	1	7	2	n/a	n/a	15	579
2009	2	539	1	12	1	n/a	n/a	15	570
2010	2	496	2	15	2	0	4	0	521
2011	3	499	1	16	1	0	6	0	526
2012	1	494	1	14	1	5	3	0	519
2013	2	459	0	17	1	3	2	0	484
2014	3	517	0	10	1	3	1	0	535
2015	6	503	0	12	1	1	3	0	526
2016	5	514	0	14	1	4	2	0	540
2017	5	532	0	17	1	0	3	0	558
2018	3	539	1	21	1	0	8	0	573
2019	1	499	1	21	0	0	11	0	533
2020	3	498	1	21	2	1	9	0	535
2021	5	471	0	18	2	1	8	0	505
2022	2	542	0	23	3	1	13	0	584
2023	3	479	0	22	6	1	17	0	528
2024	2	450	1	23	1	1	18	0	496

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Murphey Candler Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	640	35.0	18.2	4.8
1991	667	35.0	19.0	11.7
1992	480	34.0	14.1	14
1993	439	24.0	18.3	13.9
1994	409	31.0	13.2	20.5
1995	553	30.0	18.4	33.5
1996	553	30.0	18.4	33.5
1997	605	30.0	20.2	48.8
1998	599	35.2	17.0	39.7
1999	676	37.4	18.1	53.6
2000	721	40.3	17.9	45.2
2001	806	40.3	20.0	49.6
2002	953	56.8	16.8	62.6
2003	953	56.8	16.8	62.6
2004	909	48.8	18.6	64
2005	952	58.1	16.4	69
2006	878	59.8	14.7	69.7
2007	879	55.8	15.8	76.6
2008	579	39.1	14.8	83.9
2009	570	37.1	15.4	81.4
2010	521	34.5	15.1	82
2011	526	33.1	15.8	84
2012	519	35.1	14.7	82.3
2013	484	32.0	15.1	87
2014	535	32.1	16.6	90.3
2015	526	35.0	15.0	88.6
2016	540	35.0	15.4	84.1
2017	558	35.0	15.9	82.3
2018	573	38.0	15.0	88.5
2019	533	39.0	13.6	84.2
2020	535	40.0	13.3	99.1
2021	505	41.5	12.1	99
2022	584	37.5	15.5	n/a
2023	528	34.1	15.4	100
2024	496	32.8	15.1	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Murphey Candler Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	640	35.0	18.2	4.8
1991	667	35.0	19.0	11.7
1992	480	34.0	14.1	14
1993	439	24.0	18.3	13.9
1994	409	31.0	13.2	20.5
1995	553	30.0	18.4	33.5
1996	553	30.0	18.4	33.5
1997	605	30.0	20.2	48.8
1998	599	35.2	17.0	39.7
1999	676	37.4	18.1	53.6
2000	721	40.3	17.9	45.2
2001	806	40.3	20.0	49.6
2002	953	56.8	16.8	62.6
2003	953	56.8	16.8	62.6
2004	909	48.8	18.6	64
2005	952	58.1	16.4	69
2006	878	59.8	14.7	69.7
2007	879	55.8	15.8	76.6
2008	579	39.1	14.8	83.9
2009	570	37.1	15.4	81.4
2010	521	34.5	15.1	82
2011	526	33.1	15.8	84
2012	519	35.1	14.7	82.3
2013	484	32.0	15.1	87
2014	535	32.1	16.6	90.3
2015	526	35.0	15.0	88.6
2016	540	35.0	15.4	84.1
2017	558	35.0	15.9	82.3
2018	573	38.0	15.0	88.5
2019	533	39.0	13.6	84.2
2020	535	40.0	13.3	99.1
2021	505	41.5	12.1	99
2022	584	37.5	15.5	n/a
2023	528	34.1	15.4	100
2024	496	32.8	15.1	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Murphey Candler Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017	$643 (6.2%)	$9,671 (93.8%)	$10,314
2018	$590 (5.6%)	$9,938 (94.4%)	$10,527
2019	$767 (6.1%)	$11,844 (93.9%)	$12,611

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Murphey Candler Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 1134^th of 1234 Elementary schools	Ranks 1074^th of 1242 Elementary schools	5.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Murphey Candler Elementary School)	18.4	13.6	4.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (DeKalb County)	33.5	31.7	1.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	42	38.6	3.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Murphey Candler Elementary School)	16.5	18.5	2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (DeKalb County)	40.1	33.8	6.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	52	45.6	6.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Murphey Candler Elementary School)	22	18.2	3.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (DeKalb County)	34.4	30.2	4.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	42	36.1	5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Murphey Candler Elementary School)	22	14	8%
4th Grade Mathematics (DeKalb County)	35.5	33.9	1.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	49	45.7	3.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Murphey Candler Elementary School)	17.6	21.3	3.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (DeKalb County)	37.4	33.9	3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	45	41.6	3.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Murphey Candler Elementary School)	4	16.9	12.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (DeKalb County)	30.5	25.3	5.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	41	37.4	3.6%
5th Grade Science (Murphey Candler Elementary School)	17.8	23.6	5.8%
5th Grade Science (DeKalb County)	33.9	27.9	6%
5th Grade Science (Georgia)	43	40	3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	533	528	0.9%
African American	499	479	4%
American Indian	0	6
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	21	22	4.8%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	1	3	200%
Two or More Races	11	17	54.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	84.2%	100%	15.8%

Schools Near Murphey Candler Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Milestones Assessment English Language Arts (2024)						Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2024)						Milestones Assessment Science (2024)		Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Murphey Candler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6775 S Goddard Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-9102	496	33	15.1	100.0%	2 (0.4%)	450 (90.7%)	23 (4.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (3.6%)	18	1038^th of 1248 public elementary schools	16.8%		16.5	1074^th of 1242 public elementary schools	13.5%	36	18.1	22.0	29.1				21.7	11.1	20.3				26.6			$12,611	$767	$11,844
Flat Rock Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4603 Evans Mill Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 875-3202	986	62	15.9	100.0%	7 (0.7%)	871 (88.3%)	77 (7.8%)	3 (0.3%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (2.3%)	11.3	1168^th of 1248 public elementary schools	6.4%		12.7	1126^th of 1242 public elementary schools	9.3%	42	12.7	16.8	19.5				14.6	19.3	11.7				17.2			$10,883	$796	$10,088
Leadership Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	6400 Woodrow Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	Yes	No	No	Yes	(404) 656-3103	297	17	18.0	80.1%	0 (0.0%)	285 (96.0%)	10 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	43.6	645^th of 1248 public elementary schools	48.3%		58.3	468^th of 1242 public elementary schools	62.3%	177	35.5	31.1	51.7	62.5	50.0	40.7	48.4	6.7	14.8	37.5	30.8	29.6	22.2	25.9	25.9	$3,732	$635	$3,098
Fairington Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5505 Philip Bradley Dr	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-8702	481	32	15.0	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	434 (90.2%)	26 (5.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.2%)	12.8	1143^rd of 1248 public elementary schools	8.4%		8.1	1211^th of 1242 public elementary schools	2.5%	68	20.8	15.9	28.8				18.2	17.5	6.3				11.3			$11,358	$578	$10,780
Shoal Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1300 McWilliams Rd SW	Conyers	30094	Rockdale County	Rockdale County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 929-1430	644	48	13.4	81.1%	51 (7.9%)	468 (72.7%)	79 (12.3%)	9 (1.4%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.1%)	28.9	875^th of 1248 public elementary schools	29.9%		20.6	998^th of 1242 public elementary schools	19.6%	123	26.2	20.2	43.7				24.5	16.2	28.0				34.7			$10,536	$538	$9,998
Stoneview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2629 Huber St	Lithonia	30058	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-3202	769	50	15.4	100.0%	1 (0.1%)	654 (85.0%)	84 (10.9%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	23 (3.0%)	9.7	1195^th of 1248 public elementary schools	4.2%		12.9	1123^rd of 1242 public elementary schools	9.6%	72	16.9	14.8	22.8				12.2	12.6	7.4				11.0			$12,591	$1,057	$11,534
Browns Mill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4863 Browns Mill Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-8302	421	31	13.7	100.0%	2 (0.5%)	367 (87.2%)	41 (9.7%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.4%)	9.7	1196^th of 1248 public elementary schools	4.2%		13.1	1117^th of 1242 public elementary schools	10.1%	79	22.2	5.3	18.1				20.4	16.2	9.6				9.6			$12,429	$763	$11,666
Lorraine Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3343 E Fairview Rd SW	Stockbridge	30281	Henry County	Rockdale County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 483-0657	586	45	13.1	69.1%	97 (16.6%)	350 (59.7%)	81 (13.8%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	48 (8.2%)	42.6	655^th of 1248 public elementary schools	47.5%		52.2	531^st of 1242 public elementary schools	57.2%	124	34.1	27.6	51.3				26.7	35.7	32.5				41.9			$10,427	$561	$9,865
Edward L. Bouie- Senior Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5100 Rock Springs Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-8202	600	34	17.6	75.2%	0 (0.0%)	562 (93.7%)	21 (3.5%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.2%)	61.5	440^th of 1248 public elementary schools	64.7%		58.8	456^th of 1242 public elementary schools	63.3%	16	55.0	49.4	48.9				41.3	50.6	38.6				40.9			$12,276	$673	$11,604
Austin Road Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	50 Austin Rd	Stockbridge	30281	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 389-6556	409	33	12.2	79.5%	22 (5.4%)	281 (68.7%)	76 (18.6%)	9 (2.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.6%)	29	872^nd of 1248 public elementary schools	30.1%		31.4	814^th of 1242 public elementary schools	34.5%	58	23.1	25.0	39.4				25.0	28.3	28.2				31.4			$11,858	$885	$10,973

Frequently Asked Questions about Murphey Candler Elementary School

Is Murphey Candler Elementary School a good school?

Murphey Candler Elementary School ranks in the bottom 16.8% of Georgia elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Murphey Candler Elementary School?

Students at Murphey Candler Elementary School are 91% African American, 5% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Murphey Candler Elementary School in?

DeKalb County

How many students attend Murphey Candler Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 496 students attended Murphey Candler Elementary School.

Rate Murphey Candler Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.