Murphy High School

100 S Carlen St
Mobile, AL 36606
(School attendance zone shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 1,300 students in grades 9-12, Murphy High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Alabama for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%) .
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 10% (which is lower than the Alabama state average of 24%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 19% (which is lower than the Alabama state average of 46%).
The student:teacher ratio of 19:1 is higher than the Alabama state level of 18:1.
Minority enrollment is 82% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Alabama state average of 47% (majority Black).

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 1,300 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 19:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 82%
  • : 91% (Top 50% in AL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 10% (Btm 50%)
  • : 19% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

School Overview

Murphy High School's student population of 1,300 students has declined by 12% over five school years.
The teacher population of 67 teachers has declined by 32% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
Total Students
1,300 students
This chart display total students of Murphy High School by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Gender %
This chart display gender of Murphy High School
Total Classroom Teachers
67 teachers
This chart display the total teachers of Murphy High School by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart display the students of Murphy High School by grade.

School Rankings

Murphy High School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,276 schools in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Murphy High School is 0.45, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.62. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Definition of Terms 2021-2022 School Year Data
This School
State Level (AL)
#1000 out of 1276 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart display the overall school rank of Murphy High School, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
10%
24%
This chart display the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Murphy High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Alabama by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
19%
46%
This chart display the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Murphy High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Alabama by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
18:1
This chart display the student teacher ratio of Murphy High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
American Indian
1%
1%
Asian
2%
1%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Murphy High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Hispanic
4%
10%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Murphy High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Black
72%
32%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Murphy High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
White
18%
53%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Murphy High School and the percentage of White public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
3%
3%
This chart display the percentage of students of two or more races in Murphy High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Murphy High School.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in AL.
0.45
This chart display the diversity score of Murphy High School and the public school average diversity score of Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
91%
89%
This chart display graduation rate of Murphy High School and public school graduation rate of Alabama by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
62%
44%
This chart display the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Murphy High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
5%
5%
This chart display the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Murphy High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
School District Name
Source: 2021-2022 (latest school year available) National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

School Notes

  • S.S. Murphy High School, located in Mobile, Alabama, is a public high school operated by the Mobile County Public School System.
  • History: In 1922, the Mobile County Public School System (MCPSS) began to plan for the construction of a new high school that would serve the entire county, as the facilities of Barton Academy were becoming overcrowded with soldiers returning from World War I. Prior to that time Barton Academy had been used as a public school. In 1923, the Mobile County School Board acquired 38 acres from the Carlen family for a site for their proposed high school complex, with room for a student body from 8th to 11th grade. The cornerstone of the school was laid on December 14, 1925, and on April 26, 1926, Mobile High School, later known as Murphy High School, opened. Construction costs totaled $850,000 for the first six buildings with an additional $200,000 spent on the gymnasium and the Olympic-size pool installed in 1930, leading to the local designation of the school as the "million-dollar high school".
  • The school was first known as Mobile High School, but two years after its opening the school's name was changed to Murphy High School in honor of Samuel Silenus Murphy, MCPSS superintendent who directed public education in Mobile from 1900-1926. While still called Murphy High School, the yearbook was called the "Mobile High Annual." At the change of the name to Murphy High School, the workers did not want to change the name of the yearbook. They agreed to shorten the name to "Mohian," or a shortened version of Mobile High Annual.
  • Murphy was selected in 1987 as a Presidential Model School by the U.S. Department of Education, and was placed in 1982 on the National Register of Historic Landmarks by the U.S. Department of the Interior. In 1994, Redbook Magazine named Murphy one of the top high schools in America and one of the biggest high schools in Alabama. In 1997, several Murphy students were featured in Seventeen Magazine.
  • Academics: Murphy attracts students from all over Mobile County. It has extensive offering of courses, including 14 courses of Advanced Placement and the International Baccalaureate program. Students at Murphy consistently score above the national average on SAT and ACT tests. Earning over $6.5 million in scholarships annually, an average of 65% of Murphy's seniors attend four-year colleges, and approximately 20% attend two-year colleges, including vocational training. From 1990-2003, Murphy had 24 National Merit semi-finalists, and 28 commended students. Nine students earned National Achievement Recognition. Murphy also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
  • School uniform: Murphy students are required to wear school uniforms.
  • Feeder patterns: The following middle schools feed into Murphy: Burns, Calloway-Smith, Denton, Eanes, Hillsdale, Pillans, Scarborough, and Washington.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Murphy High School's ranking?
Murphy High School is ranked #1000 out of 1,276 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Alabama.
What schools are Murphy High School often compared to?
Murphy High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Baker High School, Wp Davidson High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
10% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 24% AL state average), while 19% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 46% AL state average).
What is the graduation rate of Murphy High School?
The graduation rate of Murphy High School is 91%, which is higher than the Alabama state average of 89%.
How many students attend Murphy High School?
1,300 students attend Murphy High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
72% of Murphy High School students are Black, 18% of students are White, 4% of students are Hispanic, 3% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are American Indian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Murphy High School?
Murphy High School has a student ration of 19:1, which is higher than the Alabama state average of 18:1.
What grades does Murphy High School offer ?
Murphy High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12
What school district is Murphy High School part of?
Murphy High School is part of Mobile County School District.

School Calendar

View the Murphy High School yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:

Event
Date
Spring Break
April 16, 2024 (Tuesday)

School Reviews

1   2/17/2020
This is a horrible school. The school administration doesn't take the kids’ bullying action serious. There's no guidance at the school to ensure the kids' safety. The resources officer never are on duty but linger around and not concerned about the needs of the students. Please avoid this school. The principal never is concerned about the safety of the kids. Horrible School in Mobile ala.
- Posted by Parent - Tim
2   4/10/2012
We took our son out of our district just to attend the IB program here. It was the worst thing we ever did to him. No need to bore you with details. Let me just summarize by saying this school is not a school but a big juvenile detention center, and the IB program is basically a pathetic attempt at beautification. The administration is so overwhelmed that they cannot be bothered with the needs of students who are NOT getting into trouble. There are a few good teachers, but not enough to make it worthwhile. Don't waste a single day of your child's youth, as we had. Avoid this school at all costs.
- Posted by Parent - gapud

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 1,300 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 19:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 82%
  • : 91% (Top 50%)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 10% (Btm 50%)
  • : 19% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

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