The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Science. The lowest is 40% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Murphey Traditional Academy
Murphey Traditional Academy is a public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Greensboro, with an enrollment of roughly three hundred students. The school sits in a neighborhood where the vast majority of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a student body drawn almost entirely from low-income households. The student population is predominantly Black and Hispanic, with smaller numbers of Asian, White, and multiracial students.
On state tests, Murphey's recent proficiency results sit below half in reading and math. In math, about half of third through fifth graders scored at proficient or above. In reading, the proficiency rate is lower, around forty percent. Science proficiency is higher, at roughly fifty-four percent, though this reflects a smaller tested group. These numbers place the school at a point where roughly half the students are meeting grade-level standards in core subjects and half are not, suggesting that some students are progressing as expected while others are falling behind and may need additional support to catch up.
Greensboro itself is experiencing steady growth. The city is ranked among the fastest-growing housing markets in the nation, and a local "Road to" housing initiative aims to add tens of thousands of new housing units by 2030. Downtown is undergoing substantial redevelopment, several large residential projects are underway or planned, and major employers including VF Corporation, Honda Aircraft, Mack Trucks, and others anchor the local economy. A planned Toyota battery plant will bring further economic activity to the region. Neighborhood character ranges from walkable in-town districts near downtown and the universities to auto-oriented suburban subdivisions on the city's edges. Murphey's location on Ontario Street places it in a central residential area.
Guilford County Schools, the district serving Murphey, is in the midst of a historic construction pipeline. Voters approved a major school bond in 2022 to build new schools, rebuild others, and fully renovate several more, addressing years of deferred maintenance. This means building configurations and school boundaries may shift over the coming years as facilities work completes. The district has also adopted new math materials in its middle schools and implemented curriculum policy changes aligned with state law, including revised approaches to instruction and parental notification in the early grades.
A parent evaluating Murphey should understand that test scores here reflect a student population facing significant economic barriers, and the school's academic results indicate substantial gaps in proficiency that would be worth discussing directly with school staff. The school's "traditional" designation typically signals a focus on direct instruction and structured pedagogy, though the payload provided does not detail specific program offerings, teaching approach, or specialized services. Given the proficiency rates and the composition of the student body, a parent may want to ask the school directly about what academic support is available for students working below grade level, how reading and math instruction is differentiated, and what progress monitoring or intervention programs are in place. The wider district context of facility improvements and curriculum shifts may also affect the school's trajectory in years ahead.
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