The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in Math. The lowest is 59% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on R J Murray Middle School
R.J. Murray Middle School sits on North Holmes Boulevard in St. Augustine, serving sixth through eighth graders as a regular public school in the St. Johns County School District. It is a mid-sized middle school for its grade band, drawing students from a city that blends deep historical identity with rapid suburban growth along Florida's northeast coast.
On Florida's FAST assessments, Murray's academic results are a mixed picture. Sixth-grade math proficiency is the school's strongest showing, landing solidly above the majority of students tested. Seventh-grade math is the softer spot, with less than two-thirds of students meeting the proficiency mark, the weakest result across all tested grades and subjects. ELA sits in a narrower band across all three grade levels, with sixth grade coming in slightly ahead of seventh and eighth, which are comparable to each other. Eighth-grade science, assessed through Florida's Statewide Science Assessment, trails math at that grade level by a moderate margin. Relative to districts in St. Johns County, where there are only two districts for comparison, Murray's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint, meaning it outperforms the county median across tested subjects and grades. That said, the county comparison set is very small, so that positioning tells only part of the story, and parents who want a deeper read should ask the school directly how Murray compares against district-wide middle school results.
Trend data across prior years was not available in the data provided, so it is not possible to say whether these proficiency levels represent improvement, stability, or decline.
Demographically, the school is majority white, with a substantial share of Black and Hispanic students and smaller shares of other groups. Just over half of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which places this school meaningfully above the economic-need profile that St. Johns County is often associated with countywide. Data on students with IEPs and English learners was not reported, so those populations cannot be characterized here. The school is not designated a charter or magnet school, and its Title I status was not reported in the data provided.
Program information was not available in the data, so it is not possible to describe specific electives, extracurriculars, or specialized academic tracks. A parent wanting to know about honors courses, the arts, athletics, or student support services should contact the school directly.
The housing market surrounding Murray reflects St. Augustine's broader story. Typical home values in the zip code are near the statewide median but have dipped slightly year over year, while rents have edged up slightly. At current mortgage rates, estimated monthly housing costs sit well above the national affordability threshold relative to income, which is a real consideration for families relocating. St. Johns County voters in November 2024 approved a new one-mill property tax dedicated to teacher salaries, school safety, mental health counselors, school nurses, and programs including science, art, music, and athletics. They also renewed the district's half-cent capital sales surtax for several additional years, sustaining construction and technology funding for a district managing fast enrollment growth. Both measures represent ongoing costs and commitments that prospective homebuyers in the area should factor into their decisions.
St. Augustine itself is a genuinely distinctive place to raise a school-age child. The historic downtown is compact and walkable, with a pedestrian-only main street, a bayfront, and active street life. Publicly reported data describes the city as having a higher-than-average concentration of artists and college-educated residents alongside a strong tourism and hospitality economy. Major employers include an aerospace and defense presence, a regional healthcare anchor, and Flagler College in the heart of downtown. The county is among the faster-growing in the country, with new housing construction underway and a full redesign of the downtown King Street corridor recently approved. The library system has multiple branches serving the area, and county transit runs on fixed routes connecting to neighboring counties.
Chronic absenteeism data was not reported, which is worth asking the school about, as absenteeism can meaningfully affect middle school achievement even when proficiency numbers look reasonable.
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