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Murdock Elementary

Q: Is Murdock Elementary a good school?

Murdock Elementary ranks 1318 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1318^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 77% of California elementary schools

Summary

Murdock Elementary is a high-performing K-5 public school serving 608 students in the La Mesa-Spring Valley district, consistently ranking well above state averages in academic achievement.

The school stands out in the area for its strong academic results, with significantly higher proficiency rates in English, math, and science than both the district and state. It is particularly effective in supporting its students, as evidenced by a chronic absenteeism rate of 12.9%, which is much lower than nearby schools like Casa de Oro Elementary (30.8%) and Highlands Elementary (21.7%). Murdock achieves these strong outcomes efficiently, spending less per student than several lower-performing neighboring schools, such as Avocado Elementary.

While Murdock is a top performer, it shows some areas for attention, including a noticeable drop in math scores in the 4th and 5th grades compared to 3rd grade. Its closest academic competitor is Lemon Avenue Elementary, another high-achiever in the same district. Overall, Murdock Elementary demonstrates a successful model of consistent academic performance and effective student support within its community.

608

Students ?

24.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,326

Per pupil spending ?

43.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4354 Conrad Dr.
La Mesa, CA 91941-5214

(619) 668-5775

District: La Mesa-Spring Valley

Students who attend Murdock Elementary usually attend:

Middle:

Spring Valley Academy

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

41.8%

White:

34.9%

Two or more races:

15.0%

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Compare Murdock Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 76th percentile in 2013 → 77th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (58% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of California elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in La Mesa-Spring Valley

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school58%

District avg41%

California avg41%

1,318^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 23%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 17Elementary Schools in the La Mesa-Spring Valley

723^rd of 1,543La Mesa-Spring Valley among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	76.4	1318 of 5857	77.5%	★★★★☆
2024	78.0	1244 of 5869	78.8%	★★★★☆
2023	74.7	1383 of 5859	76.4%	★★★★☆
2022	80.3	1178 of 5883	80.0%	★★★★☆
2019	89.0	706 of 5789	87.8%	★★★★☆
2018	90.3	622 of 5662	89.0%	★★★★☆
2017	89.5	667 of 5692	88.3%	★★★★☆
2016	84.3	948 of 5614	83.1%	★★★★☆
2015	78.3	1177 of 5611	79.0%	★★★★☆
2013	75.4	1302 of 5530	76.5%	★★★★☆
2012	79.4	1062 of 5390	80.3%	★★★★☆
2011	83.8	801 of 5377	85.1%	★★★★☆
2010	90.4	417 of 5314	92.2%	★★★★★
2009	86.9	646 of 5193	87.6%	★★★★☆
2008	93.2	302 of 5113	94.1%	★★★★★
2007	87.9	632 of 5113	87.6%	★★★★☆
2006	83.4	810 of 4818	83.2%	★★★★☆
2005	91.1	429 of 4822	91.1%	★★★★★
2004	92.9	339 of 4809	93.0%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	66.3	574 of 2585	77.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	79.2	1104 of 5597	80.3%	★★★★☆
2024	75.8	1258 of 5612	77.6%	★★★★☆
2023	69.0	1545 of 5609	72.5%	★★★★☆
2022	71.8	1451 of 5635	74.3%	★★★★☆
2019	85.0	819 of 5492	85.1%	★★★★☆
2018	92.2	433 of 5413	92.0%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	82.0	664 of 5107	87.0%	★★★★☆
2024	80.4	711 of 5107	86.1%	★★★★☆
2023	80.8	702 of 5087	86.2%	★★★★☆
2022	83.0	632 of 5084	87.6%	★★★★☆
2019	87.9	391 of 4963	92.1%	★★★★★
2018	89.1	344 of 4830	92.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	64.6	1578 of 5460	71.1%	★★★★☆
2024	70.7	1234 of 5517	77.6%	★★★★☆
2023	72.5	1096 of 5363	79.6%	★★★★☆
2022	71.4	1109 of 5264	78.9%	★★★★☆
2019	84.2	526 of 5173	89.8%	★★★★☆
2018	92.0	215 of 5084	95.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	70.6	1487 of 5628	73.6%	★★★★☆
2024	76.4	1218 of 5643	78.4%	★★★★☆
2023	77.4	1201 of 5638	78.7%	★★★★☆
2022	83.9	925 of 5663	83.7%	★★★★☆
2019	90.1	576 of 5510	89.5%	★★★★☆
2018	86.3	783 of 5431	85.6%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	45.3	452 of 718	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	81.7	52 of 445	88.3%	★★★★☆
2018	70.9	101 of 339	70.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	42.8	1336 of 2847	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.6	659 of 2635	75.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	59.4	1113 of 2598	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.5	857 of 2651	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.5	1034 of 2661	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.5	638 of 2726	76.6%	★★★★☆
2019	85.6	251 of 2834	91.1%	★★★★★
2018	86.6	195 of 2737	92.9%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2025)87th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)80th percentile+3 vs school

Disabled (2019)78th percentile-10 vs school

Male (2025)74th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)71st percentile-6 vs school

White (2025)57th percentile-20 vs school

Special Education (2025)53rd percentile-24 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)37th percentile-40 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy63%+15 vs state

Mathematics56%+19 vs state

Science41%+9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Murdock Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)					% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Murdock Elementary	Public	K-5	4354 Conrad Dr.	La Mesa	91941	San Diego County	La Mesa-Spring Valley	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 668-5775	608	25	24.3	43.1%	212 (34.9%)	27 (4.4%)	254 (41.8%)	23 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	91 (15.0%)	76.4	1318^th of 5857 public elementary schools	77.5%		78	1244^th of 5869 public elementary schools	78.8%	74	41.2	41.2	65.4	61.9	62.8		63.5	73.3	47.4	39.2		56.2							$17,326	$1,171	$16,155
Casa de Oro Elementary	Public	K-5	10227 Ramona Dr.	Spring Valley	91977	San Diego County	La Mesa-Spring Valley	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 668-5715	320	13	24.6	73.8%	51 (15.9%)	26 (8.1%)	204 (63.8%)	11 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (8.8%)	23.7	4532^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	22.6%		28.1	4105^th of 5869 public elementary schools	30.1%	427	10.0	10.0	40.5	37.0	20.4		31.8	34.2	28.6	10.2		23.5							$18,536	$1,720	$16,816
Lemon Avenue Elementary	Public	K-5	8787 Lemon Ave.	La Mesa	91941	San Diego County	La Mesa-Spring Valley	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 668-5835	502	18	27.8	44.4%	242 (48.2%)	20 (4.0%)	150 (29.9%)	18 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	71 (14.1%)	73.8	1426^th of 5857 public elementary schools	75.7%		65.3	1801^st of 5869 public elementary schools	69.3%	375	46.3	46.3	60.5	55.0	58.5		58.0	70.7	47.6	45.6		55.2	95.9						$17,591	$1,190	$16,401
Sparrow Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	5150 Wilson St.	La Mesa	91942	San Diego County	Sparrow Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 439-6327	156	7	22.2	34.0%	61 (39.1%)	1 (0.6%)	75 (48.1%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (10.9%)	33	3727^th of 5857 public elementary schools	36.4%		41.7	3087^th of 5869 public elementary schools	47.4%	640	23.1	23.1	46.7	46.7	34.6		43.0	20.0	29.0	15.4		21.8	83.1	90.9	90.9	90.9	87.0	92.2	$17,694	$282	$17,412
Highlands Elementary	Public	K-5	3131 South Barcelona St.	Spring Valley	91977	San Diego County	La Mesa-Spring Valley	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 668-5780	357	13	27.4	73.9%	55 (15.4%)	26 (7.3%)	236 (66.1%)	11 (3.1%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	26 (7.3%)	42.5	3039^th of 5857 public elementary schools	48.1%		38.9	3243^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	44.7%	204	32.1	32.1	33.3	46.7	52.9		44.4	26.9	40.3	24.5		31.1							$17,812	$1,666	$16,146
Avocado Elementary	Public	K-5	3845 Avocado School Rd.	La Mesa	91941	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3100	573	23	25.1	73.1%	201 (35.1%)	50 (8.7%)	244 (42.6%)	27 (4.7%)	5 (0.9%)	10 (1.7%)	36 (6.3%)	40.5	3180^th of 5857 public elementary schools	45.7%		45.7	2812^th of 5869 public elementary schools	52.1%	368	30.4	30.4	32.1	37.8	48.2		40.5	31.2	32.9	33.9		32.8							$19,869	$2,407	$17,462
EJE Elementary Academy Charter	Public, Charter	K-5	851 South Johnson Ave.	El Cajon	92020	San Diego County	EJE Elementary Academy Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 401-4150	582	25	23.2	67.0%	16 (2.7%)	8 (1.4%)	542 (93.1%)	6 (1.0%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	6 (1.0%)	20.6	4775^th of 5857 public elementary schools	18.5%		14.6	5347^th of 5869 public elementary schools	8.9%	572	18.4	18.4	28.4	27.3	29.9		28.5	23.9	21.6	19.5		21.7	92.3	92.3		92.3	92.3	92.3	$18,148	$1,716	$16,432
Loma Elementary	Public	K-5	10355 Loma Ln.	Spring Valley	91978	San Diego County	La Mesa-Spring Valley	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 668-5862	315	11	28.6	73.0%	53 (16.8%)	41 (13.0%)	169 (53.7%)	17 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	34 (10.8%)	39.6	3246^th of 5857 public elementary schools	44.6%		28.4	4078^th of 5869 public elementary schools	30.5%	832	30.2	30.2	37.5	33.3	53.9		41.9	27.1	29.2	34.6		30.4							$18,074	$1,483	$16,591
Chase Avenue Elementary	Public	K-6	195 East Chase Ave.	El Cajon	92020	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3123	757	31	24.4	94.6%	250 (33.0%)	54 (7.1%)	255 (33.7%)	129 (17.0%)	2 (0.3%)	10 (1.3%)	57 (7.5%)	7.7	5748^th of 5857 public elementary schools	1.9%		7.3	5799^th of 5869 public elementary schools	1.2%	51	2.6	2.6	22.1	15.6	17.0	16.1	17.6	9.8	6.7	6.1	5.2	6.9	95.6	98.2	98.2	96.5	97.4		$20,058	$2,663	$17,395
Sweetwater Springs Elementary	Public	K-5	10129 Austin Dr.	Spring Valley	91977	San Diego County	La Mesa-Spring Valley	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 668-5895	378	17	22.2	69.8%	65 (17.2%)	52 (13.8%)	191 (50.5%)	32 (8.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (10.1%)	44.7	2904^th of 5857 public elementary schools	50.4%		49.2	2595^th of 5869 public elementary schools	55.8%	309	24.2	24.2	42.0	37.3	59.7		47.2	38.0	30.2	35.5		34.6	86.8	86.8		86.8	86.8	86.8	$17,411	$1,544	$15,867

Frequently Asked Questions about Murdock Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Murdock Elementary?

Students at Murdock Elementary are 42% Hispanic, 35% White, 15% Two or more races, 4% African American, 4% Asian.

Is Murdock Elementary a good school?

Murdock Elementary ranks 1318^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Murdock Elementary attend?

Students who attend Murdock Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Spring Valley Academy

How many students attend Murdock Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 608 students attended Murdock Elementary.

What district is Murdock Elementary in?

La Mesa-Spring Valley

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.