- Enrollment
- 2,234
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lithonia, GA
Murphey Candler Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Murphey Candler Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130174000709
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Murphey Candler Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools.
- #5 of 12
- schools in Lithonia · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Murphey Candler Elementary School has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Murphey Candler Elementary School ranks #5 of 12 schools in Lithonia, GA.
School address
District: Dekalb County · Georgia
NCES ID 130174000709 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-32 students YoY
Murphey Candler Elementary School shrank from 528 students in 2022-23 to 496 in 2023-24 (-6.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 34.1 → 32.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-32 students YoY 130174000709 · Lithonia, GA Other · MID · TRAD
512 enr · 15.1:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Lakeside High School (2,234 students)
Murphey Candler Elementary School shrank from 528 students in 2022-23 to 496 in 2023-24 (-6.1%). Teacher FTE lost 34.1 → 32.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
Murphey Candler Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lakeside High
Lakeside High School
2,234 students
- Dunwoody High
Dunwoody High School
2,012 students
- Chamblee High
Chamblee High School
1,867 students
- Cross Keys Hig
Cross Keys High School
1,748 students
- Sequoyah Middl
Sequoyah Middle School
1,713 students
- This school 512
Murphey Candler Elementary School
512 students
What this shows Murphey Candler Elementary School reports 512 students on the CCD universe file.
How Murphey Candler Elementary School compares
Murphey Candler Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▲ 5% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 65% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 512 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
512
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 65% in Georgia - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,368
per pupil, district-wide
- above Georgia avg of $14,615
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 512 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
28
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 92.4%
Hispanic or Latino 3.5%
Two or More 2.7%
White 0.6%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 92.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 14.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 14.4, Murphey Candler Elementary School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Dekalb County reports $15,368 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Murphey Candler Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dunwoody High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chamblee High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cross Keys High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sequoyah Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Murphey Candler Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,867
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,748
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,713
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Lithonia
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Flat Rock Elementary School
Standard public school
977 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Stoneview Elementary School
Standard public school
782 students 15:1 students per teacher
Princeton Elementary School
Standard public school
751 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Edward L. Bouie- Sr. Elementary School
Standard public school
599 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Panola Way Elementary School
Standard public school
550 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Redan Elementary School
Standard public school
525 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~512 students)
Frequently asked questions about Murphey Candler Elementary School
How many students attend Murphey Candler Elementary School?
Murphey Candler Elementary School has 512 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lithonia, GA. CCD year-over-year: 528 (2022-23) → 496 (2023-24), down 32.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Murphey Candler Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Murphey Candler Elementary School is 15.1:1, which is 5% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Murphey Candler Elementary School?
100.0% of students at Murphey Candler Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Murphey Candler Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Murphey Candler Elementary School is African American at 92.4% of enrollment, in Lithonia, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Murphey Candler Elementary School?
Murphey Candler Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Murphey Candler Elementary School rank among schools in Lithonia?
By Resource Investment Index, Murphey Candler Elementary School ranks #5 of 12 schools in Lithonia, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lithonia on the city page.
What other schools are in Dekalb County?
Besides Murphey Candler Elementary School, Dekalb County also operates Lakeside High School (2,234 students), Dunwoody High School (2,012 students), and Chamblee High School (1,867 students). See the Dekalb County district page for the complete list.