The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Murray Elementary
Murray Elementary is a regular public school in Hobbs, New Mexico, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits within the Hobbs Municipal Schools district in Lea County, a community shaped by the oil and gas industry of the Permian Basin. Hobbs is a car-dependent city spread across highway corridors, with its civic center along Broadway and its economy anchored by mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction. The city also hosts retail trade and educational services as major sectors, including University of the Southwest and New Mexico Junior College. Publicly reported sources describe Hobbs as the largest retail trade area in southeastern New Mexico, drawing shoppers from surrounding communities. The city promotes itself as having lower rental prices than neighboring towns and being free from the congestion found elsewhere in the Permian region. Housing in the school's zip code runs well below the state and national benchmarks, with typical home values and rents that make the area comparatively affordable for families. The city has grown steadily in recent years, reflecting its role as an energy-industry hub.
The school enrolls a mid-sized population for an elementary in this region. Its student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller White and Black populations. A little over half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the working-class character of much of the surrounding neighborhood. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available in the sources provided, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those services and how they are delivered.
On the most recent state assessments, Murray Elementary's proficiency results sit below what most families would hope to see. In math, roughly one in five tested students reached proficiency or above. In English language arts, the share was slightly higher but still below a quarter of tested students. Science results were reported in the lowest range the state publishes, with only a handful of students demonstrating proficiency. These results come from a single year of available data, so no trend can be drawn. A parent considering this school may want to look into how the school supports students who are below grade level, what intervention or tutoring structures exist, and how the district is responding to these outcomes.
Because Murray serves only pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report and no state testing for the youngest grades. The proficiency figures cover the tested elementary grades only. No data was provided on staffing ratios, teacher experience, attendance rates, disciplinary actions, course offerings, or specialized programs. The absence of these fields means a reader cannot assess class sizes or staff supports from what is available here. A family visiting the school could reasonably ask about those areas during a tour.
Hobbs Municipal Schools did not surface any parent-relevant changes in the district brief, such as curriculum shifts, bond issues, or facility investments. The district operates multiple schools across the city. No neighbor comparison data was provided for this school, so it is not possible to position Murray against nearby elementaries using the comparison set.
For a family weighing Murray Elementary, the picture that emerges from the available data is a neighborhood elementary in an affordable, energy-driven town with a large Hispanic enrollment and a working-class population. Academic results are a soft spot, plainly stated, and the school's supports and staffing details are gaps in the public record. A parent would be well served by visiting, asking how the school addresses proficiency shortfalls, and learning what is being done at the classroom level to move students forward.
See more original research from School Decision →