Murphy High School
Tel:
(251)221-3206
- Murphy High School serves 1,993 students in grades 9-12.
- The percentage of students achieving proficiency in Math is 18% (which is lower than the Alabama state average of 44%) for the 2016-17 school year. The percentage of students achieving proficiency in Reading/Language Arts is 26% (which is lower than the Alabama state average of 39%) for the 2016-17 school year.
- The student:teacher ratio of 17:1 is lower 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 45%.
Top Placements
Murphy High School places among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
- Category Attribute
- Community Size Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
School Overview
- Murphy High School's student population of 1,993 students has declined by 11% over five school years.
- The teacher population of 115 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
| Grades Offered | Grades 9-12 |
| Total Students | 1,993 students |
 | |
| Gender % |  |
| Total Classroom Teachers | 115 teachers |
 | |
| Students by Grade |  |
School Comparison
- Murphy High School's student:teacher ratio of 17:1 has decreased from 19:1 over five school years.
- The diversity score of Murphy High School is 0.39, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.59. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
| Definition of Terms 2016-2017 School Year Data | This School | State Level (AL) |
| Overall School Rank | #1007 out of 1,264 schools (Bottom 50%) | |
| Math Test Scores (% Proficient) | 18% | 44% |
 | ||
| Reading / Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient) | 26% | 39% |
 | ||
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 |
 | ||
| Asian | 2% | 1% |
| Hispanic | 3% | 7% |
| Black | 76% | 33% |
| White | 18% | 55% |
| Two or more races | 1% | 2% |
| All Ethnic Groups |  |  |
| Diversity Score | 0.39 | 0.59 |
 | ||
| Graduation Rate | 84% | 88% |
 | ||
| Eligible for Free Lunch | 43% | 47% |
| Eligible for Reduced Lunch | n/a | 5% |
| School Statewide Testing | View Education Department Test Scores | |
| School District Name | Mobile County School District | |
Source: 2016-2017 (latest school year available) 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.
Nearby Public Schools
- The nearest high school to Murphy High School is Augusta Evans School (0.9 miles away)
- The nearest middle school is Augusta Evans School (0.9 miles away)
- The nearest elementary school is Old Shell Creative Performing Art (0.7 miles away)
Show me:
- School Location Miles Grades Students
- Mobile Old Shell Creative Performing Art Grades: K-5 | 511 students
0.7 miles
3160 Heather St
Mobile, AL 36604
(251)221-1557 0.7 K-5 511 - Mobile Augusta Evans School Special Education School
Grades: PK-12 | 270 students
0.9 miles
6301 Biloxi Ave
Mobile, AL 36607
(251)221-5400 0.9 PK-12 270 - Mobile Leinkauf Elementary School Grades: PK-5 | 654 students
1.1 miles
1410 Monroe St
Mobile, AL 36604
(251)221-1495 1.1 PK-5 654 - Mobile Lillie B Williamson High School Grades: 6-12 | 771 students
1.2 miles
1567 E Dublin St
Mobile, AL 36605
(251)221-3411 1.2 6-12 771 - Mobile Pointe Academy Alternative School
1.2 miles
461 Donald Street
Mobile, AL 36617
(334)470-1798 1.2 n/a n/a
School Reviews
| 2 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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