- Enrollment
- 467
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Murphy, NC
Murphy Middle
Federal NCES profile for Murphy Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370078001056
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Murphy Middle earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of North Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most North Carolina schools.
- #9 of 9
- public schools in Murphy · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 57.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Murphy Middle has class sizes larger than 77% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Murphy Middle ranks #9 of 9 public schools in Murphy, NC.
School address
District: Cherokee County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370078001056 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-19 students YoY
Murphy Middle shrank from 316 students in 2022-23 to 297 in 2023-24 (-6.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 20.4 → 19.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-19 students YoY 370078001056 · Murphy, NC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
353 enr · 17.6:1 · 57.9% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Murphy Elementary (467 students)
Murphy Middle shrank from 316 students in 2022-23 to 297 in 2023-24 (-6.0%). Teacher FTE lost 20.4 → 19.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Murphy Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Murphy Element
Murphy Elementary
467 students
- Murphy High
Murphy High
424 students
- This school
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 Middle reports 353 students on the CCD universe file.
How Murphy Middle compares
Murphy Middle 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 | 17.6:1 | ▲ 11% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.9% | ▼ 12% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 353 | top 70% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
353
Bigger than 40% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
57.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% 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
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 77% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
44.8%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 353 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
66
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 84.7%
Two or More 6.2%
Hispanic or Latino 5.4%
African American 2.0%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: White at 84.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 27.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 27.5, Murphy Middle is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
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 Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Murphy High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Andrews Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ranger Elementary/Middle | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Andrews High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Murphy Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- 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
Nationwide middle 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 (~353 students)
Frequently asked questions about Murphy Middle
How many students attend Murphy Middle?
Murphy Middle has 353 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Murphy, NC. CCD year-over-year: 316 (2022-23) → 297 (2023-24), down 19.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Murphy Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Murphy Middle is 17.6:1, which is 11% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Murphy Middle?
57.9% of students at Murphy Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Murphy Middle?
The largest demographic group at Murphy Middle is White at 84.7% of enrollment, in Murphy, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Murphy Middle?
Murphy Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Middle rank among public schools in Murphy?
By Resource Investment Index, Murphy Middle ranks #9 of 9 public 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 public schools in Murphy on the city page.
What other schools are in Cherokee County Schools?
Besides Murphy Middle, Cherokee County Schools also operates Murphy Elementary (467 students), Murphy High (424 students), and Andrews Elementary (330 students). See the Cherokee County Schools district page for the complete list.