- Enrollment
- 467
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Murphy, NC
Murphy High
Federal NCES profile for Murphy High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370078000323
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Murphy High earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Murphy · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.5:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 52.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Murphy High has class sizes smaller than 84% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Murphy High ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Murphy, NC.
School address
District: Cherokee County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370078000323 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-56 students YoY
Murphy High shrank from 489 students in 2022-23 to 433 in 2023-24 (-11.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 34.5 → 28.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-56 students YoY 370078000323 · Murphy, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
424 enr · 12.5:1 · 52.8% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Murphy Elementary (467 students)
Murphy High shrank from 489 students in 2022-23 to 433 in 2023-24 (-11.5%). Teacher FTE lost 34.5 → 28.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Murphy High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Murphy Element
Murphy Elementary
467 students
- This school
Murphy High
424 students
- Murphy Middle
Murphy Middle
353 students
- Andrews Elemen
Andrews Elementary
330 students
- Ranger Element
Ranger Elementary/Middle
264 students
- Andrews High
Andrews High
229 students
What this shows Murphy High reports 424 students on the CCD universe file.
How Murphy High compares
Murphy High is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.5:1 | ▼ 21% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.8% | ▼ 20% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 424 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.5:1
Leaner classes than 71% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
424
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.5:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 16% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
59.2%
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
$14,303
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 212 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
17
in-school suspensions + 50 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.2%
Hispanic or Latino 8.5%
Two or More 5.9%
African American 3.1%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 80.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.5, Murphy High is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 11
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cherokee County Schools reports $14,303 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Murphy High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Murphy Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Andrews Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ranger Elementary/Middle | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Andrews High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Murphy High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 353
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 330
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 264
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 229
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar high schools in Murphy
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~424 students)
Frequently asked questions about Murphy High
How many students attend Murphy High?
Murphy High has 424 students enrolled. It is a high school in Murphy, NC. CCD year-over-year: 489 (2022-23) → 433 (2023-24), down 56.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Murphy High?
The student-teacher ratio at Murphy High is 12.5:1, which is 21% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 20% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Murphy High?
52.8% of students at Murphy High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Murphy High?
The largest demographic group at Murphy High is White at 80.2% of enrollment, in Murphy, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Murphy High?
Murphy High has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Murphy High rank among high schools in Murphy?
By Resource Investment Index, Murphy High ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Murphy, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Murphy on the city page.
What other schools are in Cherokee County Schools?
Besides Murphy High, Cherokee County Schools also operates Murphy Elementary (467 students), Murphy Middle (353 students), and Andrews Elementary (330 students). See the Cherokee County Schools district page for the complete list.