Is Murphy High a good school?

Murphy High ranks 279 th of 640 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Murphy High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 433 students attended Murphy High.

What is the racial makeup of Murphy High?

Students at Murphy High are 82% White, 6% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 3% African American, 1% American Indian.

What schools feed into Murphy High?

Murphy High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Martins Creek Elementary/Mid Elementary : Murphy Elementary Elementary : Peachtree Elementary Middle : Murphy Middle

Murphy High

Summary:

Murphy High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Murphy, North Carolina, with a student population of 489. The school is part of the Cherokee County Schools district, which is ranked 82 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

While Murphy High School has shown mixed academic performance compared to state and district averages, it generally outperforms nearby schools like Andrews High and Hiwassee Dam High. However, the school's ranking has declined over the years, and it lags behind the exceptional Tri-County Early College High in academic measures. The school's Gifted and Talented program has also seen fluctuations, and the growing population of economically disadvantaged students may require additional support and resources.

Despite these challenges, Murphy High School remains a viable option for families in the area. The school's strengths include its performance for Special Education and Low Socioeconomic Status students, and its racial composition has become slightly more diverse in recent years. As the school navigates these changes, it will be important for the administration to address areas for improvement and ensure the success of all its students.

Detail:

Public 9-12

234 High School Circle
Murphy, NC 28906-2516

(828) 837-2426

District: Cherokee County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
279^th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,724

Feeder schools for Murphy High:

Elementary:	Martins Creek Elementary/Mid
	Murphy Elementary
	Peachtree Elementary
Middle:	Murphy Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 15.4

Number of students: 433

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.4%

Two or more races:

6.5%

Hispanic:

6.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 99.3%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Murphy High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Murphy High ranks better than 56.4% of high schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 2^nd among 4 ranked high schools in the Cherokee County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 53.43. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Murphy High has the largest high school student body size in the Cherokee County Schools District. Racial makeup is: White (82.4%), two or more races (6.5%), Hispanic (6.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 99.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Cherokee County Schools District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Murphy High is 15.4, which is the highest among 5 high schools in the Cherokee County Schools District! (See more...)

Compare Murphy High employs 28 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Murphy High is $10,724. 3 high schools in the Cherokee County Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Murphy High:

SchoolDigger ranks Murphy High 279^th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Murphy High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Male students:

White students:

Cherokee County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Cherokee County Schools 82^nd of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Murphy High?

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Rank History for Murphy High

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Rank History for all students at Murphy High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2006	70.12	70^th	431	83.8%
2007	64.27	108^th	453	76.2%
2008	59.61	153^rd	477	67.9%
2009	63.19	133^rd	490	72.9%
2010	61.40	178^th	499	64.3%
2011	63.73	140^th	506	72.3%
2012	71.41	63^rd	502	87.5%
2013	58.85	82^nd	505	83.8%
2014	65.17	91^st	451	79.8%
2015	34.21	310^th	531	41.6%
2016	35.72	269^th	507	46.9%
2017	22.03	365^th	476	23.3%
2018	54.46	184^th	469	60.8%
2019	35.73	311^th	514	39.5%
2021	43.91	312^th	594	47.5%
2022	49.90	287^th	621	53.8%
2023	58.33	240^th	626	61.7%
2024	53.43	279^th	640	56.4%

See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Murphy High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	46.80	142^nd	349	59.3%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Murphy High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	61.83	86^th	424	79.7%
2019	36.57	238^th	446	46.6%
2021	50.08	117^th	432	72.9%
2022	51.26	216^th	544	60.3%
2023	63.31	167^th	597	72.0%
2024	57.15	202^nd	613	67.0%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Murphy High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	57.12	181^st	449	59.7%
2019	38.19	286^th	475	39.8%
2021	48.92	201^st	475	57.7%
2022	46.10	310^th	594	47.8%
2023	63.35	205^th	588	65.1%
2024	52.04	275^th	602	54.3%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Murphy High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	64.76	69^th	349	80.2%
2019	43.52	183^rd	364	49.7%
2021	79.54	33^rd	334	90.1%
2022	47.49	126^th	330	61.8%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Murphy High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2019	54.25	163^rd	325	49.8%
2021	70.16	81^st	337	76.0%
2022	62.72	170^th	398	57.3%
2023	77.34	74^th	403	81.6%
2024	54.43	241^st	403	40.2%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Murphy High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	48.80	218^th	463	52.9%
2019	30.55	322^nd	488	34.0%
2021	39.56	242^nd	481	49.7%
2022	51.62	255^th	585	56.4%
2023	53.51	256^th	602	57.5%
2024	53.43	260^th	607	57.2%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Murphy High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	37.76	268^th	449	40.3%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Murphy High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	33.32	304^th	427	28.8%
2019	20.61	367^th	444	17.3%
2021	25.91	313^th	439	28.7%
2022	35.26	352^nd	534	34.1%
2023	45.90	286^th	537	46.7%
2024	43.66	316^th	553	42.9%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Murphy High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	798	36	7	7	10	n/a	n/a	-5	853
1989	764	34	4	7	15	n/a	n/a	0	824
1990	702	32	5	13	31	n/a	n/a	0	783
1991	702	28	6	11	33	n/a	n/a	2	782
1992	679	33	5	15	35	n/a	n/a	-2	765
1993	682	33	6	10	37	n/a	n/a	0	768
1994	730	32	5	7	33	n/a	n/a	0	807
1995	487	15	3	2	21	n/a	n/a	0	528
1996	487	15	3	2	21	n/a	n/a	0	528
1997	495	20	3	6	16	n/a	n/a	0	540
1998	495	20	4	2	16	n/a	n/a	0	537
1999	502	21	6	4	13	n/a	n/a	0	546
2000	494	18	3	5	13	n/a	n/a	0	533
2001	536	16	2	7	14	n/a	n/a	0	575
2002	550	20	3	10	12	n/a	n/a	0	595
2003	550	20	3	10	12	n/a	n/a	0	595
2004	574	19	3	10	12	n/a	n/a	0	618
2005	562	16	5	10	14	n/a	n/a	0	607
2006	552	18	3	15	15	n/a	n/a	0	603
2007	538	12	4	11	17	n/a	n/a	7	589
2008	475	17	5	10	12	n/a	n/a	11	530
2009	486	25	2	11	8	n/a	n/a	0	532
2010	475	29	2	14	10	n/a	n/a	0	530
2011	455	13	5	13	8	0	11	0	505
2012	431	11	8	8	8	0	9	0	475
2013	422	11	9	11	10	0	9	0	472
2014	410	11	8	10	10	0	6	0	455
2015	402	13	6	16	8	0	4	0	449
2016	447	14	3	13	13	0	9	0	499
2017	445	15	2	15	14	0	12	0	503
2018	452	20	2	23	12	0	14	0	523
2019	413	17	4	21	7	0	14	0	476
2020	399	15	6	26	4	0	30	0	480
2021	405	11	4	24	5	1	11	0	461
2022	385	8	4	27	3	1	14	0	442
2023	414	14	5	29	6	1	20	0	489
2024	357	12	4	27	5	0	28	0	433

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 Murphy High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	853	43.0	19.8	28
1989	824	43.0	19.1	42.2
1990	783	43.0	18.2	34.7
1991	782	43.0	18.1	34.8
1992	765	43.0	17.7	20.3
1993	768	47.0	16.3	26.2
1994	807	46.0	17.5	28.5
1995	528	38.0	13.9	27.8
1996	528	38.0	13.9	27.8
1997	540	37.0	14.6	5.2
1998	537	41.0	13.1	26.8
1999	546	41.0	13.3	31.7
2000	533	41.0	13.0	34.3
2001	575	41.0	14.0	26.8
2002	595	43.0	13.8	34.3
2003	595	43.0	13.8	34.3
2004	618	43.0	14.4	37.9
2005	607	45.0	13.5	37.9
2006	603	45.0	13.4	36.8
2007	589	44.0	13.4	38
2008	530	43.0	12.3	43.4
2009	532	43.0	12.4	42.1
2010	530	37.0	14.2	50.8
2011	505	34.9	14.4	51.9
2012	475	34.2	13.8	52.6
2013	472	34.1	13.8	51.3
2014	455	29.9	15.1	56.9
2015	449	31.0	14.4	56.1
2016	499	33.0	15.1	46.7
2017	503	31.2	16.0	51.3
2018	523	32.2	16.2	47
2019	476	34.1	13.9	47.5
2020	480	34.3	13.9	41.9
2021	461	38.8	11.8	29.3
2022	442	35.0	12.6	26
2023	489	34.4	14.1	54.6
2024	433	28.0	15.4	99.3

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 Murphy High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	853	43.0	19.8	28
1989	824	43.0	19.1	42.2
1990	783	43.0	18.2	34.7
1991	782	43.0	18.1	34.8
1992	765	43.0	17.7	20.3
1993	768	47.0	16.3	26.2
1994	807	46.0	17.5	28.5
1995	528	38.0	13.9	27.8
1996	528	38.0	13.9	27.8
1997	540	37.0	14.6	5.2
1998	537	41.0	13.1	26.8
1999	546	41.0	13.3	31.7
2000	533	41.0	13.0	34.3
2001	575	41.0	14.0	26.8
2002	595	43.0	13.8	34.3
2003	595	43.0	13.8	34.3
2004	618	43.0	14.4	37.9
2005	607	45.0	13.5	37.9
2006	603	45.0	13.4	36.8
2007	589	44.0	13.4	38
2008	530	43.0	12.3	43.4
2009	532	43.0	12.4	42.1
2010	530	37.0	14.2	50.8
2011	505	34.9	14.4	51.9
2012	475	34.2	13.8	52.6
2013	472	34.1	13.8	51.3
2014	455	29.9	15.1	56.9
2015	449	31.0	14.4	56.1
2016	499	33.0	15.1	46.7
2017	503	31.2	16.0	51.3
2018	523	32.2	16.2	47
2019	476	34.1	13.9	47.5
2020	480	34.3	13.9	41.9
2021	461	38.8	11.8	29.3
2022	442	35.0	12.6	26
2023	489	34.4	14.1	54.6
2024	433	28.0	15.4	99.3

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 Murphy High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,248 (11.6%)	$9,476 (88.4%)	$10,724

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Murphy High

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 311^th of 514 High schools	Ranks 240^th of 626 High schools	22.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Murphy High)	47.4	55.5	8.1%
End of Course Biology (Cherokee County Schools)	48.4	51.7	3.3%
End of Course Biology (North Carolina)	59.6	54.1	5.5%
End of Course English II (Murphy High)	59.3	63.3	4%
End of Course English II (Cherokee County Schools)	64.1	68	3.9%
End of Course English II (North Carolina)	59.7	58.5	1.2%
End of Course Math I (Murphy High)	23.8	60.4	36.6%
End of Course Math I (Cherokee County Schools)	30.9	47.2	16.3%
End of Course Math I (North Carolina)	41.2	35.9	5.3%
End of Course Math III (Murphy High)	41.5	58.9	17.4%
End of Course Math III (Cherokee County Schools)	44.1	52.9	8.8%
End of Course Math III (North Carolina)	46.8	58.3	11.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	476	489	2.7%
African American	17	14	17.6%
American Indian	7	6	14.3%
Asian	4	5	25%
Hispanic	21	29	38.1%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	413	414	0.2%
Two or More Races	14	20	42.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	47.5%	54.6%	7.1%

Schools Near Murphy High

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOC Biology (2024)	EOC English II (2024)	EOC Math I (2024)	EOC Math III (2024)	EOG Reading (2024)	EOG Science (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	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Murphy High	Public	9-12	234 High School Circle	Murphy	28906	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 837-2426	433	28	15.4	99.3%	357 (82.4%)	12 (2.8%)	27 (6.2%)	4 (0.9%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.5%)	53.4	279^th of 640 public high schools	56.4%		58.3	240^th of 626 public high schools	61.7%	39	44.1	65.3	59.5	62.6			$10,724	$1,248	$9,476
The Oaks Academy	Public	6-12	The Oaks Academy	Murphy	28906	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 837-6775	52	8	6.3	94.2%	44 (84.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.8%)								(n/a)		12.5			9.1	36.4	$16,426	$280	$16,146
Tri-County Early College High	Public	9-12	Tri-County Early College High	Murphy	28906	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 837-6775	153	11	14.1	98.0%	115 (75.2%)	3 (2.0%)	28 (18.3%)	3 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.6%)	77.7	140^th of 640 public high schools	78.1%		77.7	140^th of 626 public high schools	77.6%		80.0	91.4	46.9	76.2			$7,830	$280	$7,549
Hiwassee Dam High	Public	9-12	267 Blue Eagle Circle	Murphy	28906	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 644-5115	141	15	9.5	97.9%	128 (90.8%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.5%)	27.8	469^th of 640 public high schools	26.7%		24.4	480^th of 626 public high schools	23.3%	11	21.7	60.0	40.0	36.4			$12,078	$452	$11,625
Hayesville High	Public	9-12	205 Yellow Jacket Drive	Hayesville	28904	Clay County	Clay County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 389-6532	374	27	14.0	49.7%	322 (86.1%)	4 (1.1%)	31 (8.3%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.2%)	56.4	251^st of 640 public high schools	60.8%		64.4	197^th of 626 public high schools	68.5%	54	58.3	66.4	35.4	71.0			$14,651	$1,180	$13,471
Andrews High	Public	9-12	50 High School Drive	Andrews	28901	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 321-5415	222	16	14.1	98.6%	184 (82.9%)	1 (0.5%)	20 (9.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.8%)	32.7	422^nd of 640 public high schools	34.1%		49	298^th of 626 public high schools	52.4%	124	42.9	67.2	23.1	34.0			$14,037	$1,030	$13,007

Murphy High

Murphy High:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Cherokee County Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Murphy High

Rank History for all students at Murphy High

Rank History for Special Education students at Murphy High

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Murphy High

Rank History for Female students at Murphy High

Rank History for Disabled students at Murphy High

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Murphy High

Rank History for Male students at Murphy High

Rank History for Hispanic students at Murphy High

Rank History for White students at Murphy High

Enrollment information for Murphy High

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Murphy High

Student/Teacher Ratio Murphy High

Per Pupil Expenditures for Murphy High

Impact of COVID-19 on Murphy High

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Murphy High

Murphy High

The Oaks Academy

Tri-County Early College High

Hiwassee Dam High

Hayesville High

Andrews High

Frequently Asked Questions about Murphy High

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