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Test scores delayed: 2026 rankings for Georgia do not yet include English Language Arts scores, which will not be released by the Georgia Department of Education until winter 2026.

Murphey Candler Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1026^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,222 Georgia Elementary Schools

Better than 16% of Georgia elementary schools

Summary

Murphey Candler Elementary School in Lithonia, GA, serves approximately 512 students in grades PK-5 as part of the DeKalb County School District, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most encouraging news for parents is the school's dramatic improvement this year. After ranking in the 5th percentile last year, Murphey Candler jumped to the 16th percentile statewide—a tripling of its ranking and a leap of 153 positions. This momentum is especially visible in 5th grade math, where 35.6% of students met proficiency, exceeding the district average of 31.7% and nearly doubling the school's own score from the prior year. That performance also outpaces nearby schools like Fairington Elementary School (13%), Stoneview Elementary School (0.9%), and Flat Rock Elementary School (22.7%). The school also maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.1:1 and spends about $18,882 per student—more than several comparable schools, including Leadership Preparatory Academy and Shoal Creek Elementary School.

Still, challenges remain. Chronic absenteeism rose to 30.9% this year, up from 24.4% and nearly double the state average—though it remains better than Stoneview (44.1%) and Fairington (38.3%). Special education students rank in the 5th percentile statewide, indicating a need for more targeted support. A comparison with Edward L. Bouie- Senior Elementary School, just 4 miles away, shows that school-level factors matter: Bouie-Senior ranks in the 58th percentile with a 5.7% absenteeism rate, despite serving a similarly high-poverty population. For parents, the takeaway is that Murphey Candler is on an upward path, with real bright spots in math and a clear focus area in attendance.

512

Students ?

13.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,882

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6775 S Goddard Rd
Lithonia, GA 30038

(678) 676-9102

District: DeKalb County

Racial breakdown:

African American:

92.4%

Hispanic:

3.5%

Two or more races:

2.7%

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Compare Murphey Candler Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 7th percentile in 2016 → 16th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Georgia average (25% vs 47% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (31% vs 18% Georgia)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school25%

District avg34%

Georgia avg47%

1,026^th of 1,222

Georgia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 16%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 7% (2016) to bottom 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

41^st of 81Elementary Schools in the DeKalb County

137^th of 202DeKalb County among Georgia 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	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	18.3	1026 of 1222	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	10.4	1177 of 1238	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.0	1033 of 1236	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.5	1063 of 1223	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.2	1036 of 1220	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.1	1046 of 1214	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	10.5	1134 of 1234	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	8.8	1154 of 1209	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	8.4	1153 of 1205	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	11.0	1149 of 1233	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	19.6	1017 of 1240	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	9.5	1139 of 1231	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	10.2	1123 of 1225	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	10.5	1111 of 1201	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	9.9	1133 of 1212	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	15.5	1067 of 1183	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	20.6	986 of 1133	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	24.5	957 of 1134	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	35.3	837 of 1125	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	33.2	821 of 1101	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	31.9	576 of 829	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	18.7	796 of 892	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.6	615 of 879	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.3	607 of 870	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.4	596 of 876	32.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	15.1	1060 of 1189	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.1	1161 of 1224	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.7	1031 of 1223	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.7	1023 of 1212	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.5	959 of 1206	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	22.5	925 of 1186	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.0	1155 of 1225	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.6	1011 of 1220	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.2	1058 of 1210	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.7	1103 of 1209	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	14.3	443 of 466	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)31st percentile+14 vs school

Male (2026)22nd percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)11th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2026)5th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics26%-22 vs state

Science22%-22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Murphey Candler Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2026)						Milestones Assessment Science (2026)		Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Murphey Candler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6775 S Goddard Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-9102	512	39	13.1	100.0%	3 (0.6%)	473 (92.4%)	18 (3.5%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.7%)	18.3	1026^th of 1222 public elementary schools	16.0%		10.4	1177^th of 1238 public elementary schools	4.9%	151	17.7	24.6	35.6				21.9			$18,882	$1,827	$17,054
Flat Rock Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4603 Evans Mill Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 875-3202	977	63	15.5	100.0%	3 (0.3%)	879 (90.0%)	56 (5.7%)	4 (0.4%)	6 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	28 (2.9%)	11.2	1137^th of 1222 public elementary schools	7.0%		11.6	1152^nd of 1238 public elementary schools	6.9%	15	24.3	17.9	22.7				14.3			$17,296	$2,183	$15,113
Leadership Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	6400 Woodrow Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	Yes	No	No	Yes	(404) 656-3103	268	23	11.6	67.9%	0 (0.0%)	257 (95.9%)	6 (2.2%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	37.5	708^th of 1222 public elementary schools	42.1%		41.6	665^th of 1238 public elementary schools	46.3%	43	43.2	41.3	26.1	20.4	32.2	34.7	56.5	13.0	17.4	$14,747	$1,325	$13,421
Fairington Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5505 Philip Bradley Dr	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-8702	461	37	12.4	100.0%	1 (0.2%)	411 (89.2%)	23 (5.0%)	4 (0.9%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (4.1%)	7.9	1178^th of 1222 public elementary schools	3.6%		9.5	1189^th of 1238 public elementary schools	4.0%	11	11.0	29.5	13.0				6.0			$20,113	$2,279	$17,834
Shoal Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1300 McWilliams Rd SW	Conyers	30094	Rockdale County	Rockdale County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 929-1430	666	43	15.4	100.0%	39 (5.9%)	492 (73.9%)	91 (13.7%)	8 (1.2%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.0%)	15.5	1070^th of 1222 public elementary schools	12.4%		13.9	1114^th of 1238 public elementary schools	10.0%	44	18.1	32.4	21.0				22.1			$14,977	$942	$14,035
Stoneview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2629 Huber St	Lithonia	30058	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-3202	782	57	13.7	100.0%	23 (2.9%)	646 (82.6%)	78 (10.0%)	11 (1.4%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	19 (2.4%)	2.1	1222^nd of 1222 public elementary schools	0.0%		4.4	1236^th of 1238 public elementary schools	0.2%	14	6.6	6.4	0.9				3.5			$18,142	$1,915	$16,227
Browns Mill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4863 Browns Mill Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-8302	411	31	13.2	100.0%	1 (0.2%)	362 (88.1%)	32 (7.8%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.2%)	14.1	1096^th of 1222 public elementary schools	10.3%		15.1	1090^th of 1238 public elementary schools	12.0%	6	30.8	23.3	17.3				20.7			$21,882	$2,340	$19,543
Lorraine Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3343 E Fairview Rd SW	Stockbridge	30281	Henry County	Rockdale County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 483-0657	571	43	13.2	73.2%	83 (14.5%)	355 (62.2%)	85 (14.9%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	40 (7.0%)	32.3	799^th of 1222 public elementary schools	34.6%		39.8	687^th of 1238 public elementary schools	44.5%	112	23.7	37.5	38.1				39.3			$16,178	$1,277	$14,901
Edward L. Bouie- Senior Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5100 Rock Springs Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-8202	599	37	16.1	87.0%	0 (0.0%)	551 (92.0%)	30 (5.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.5%)	53.6	514^th of 1222 public elementary schools	57.9%		56.1	489^th of 1238 public elementary schools	60.5%	25	41.6	48.9	42.7				53.3			$17,871	$1,850	$16,021
Austin Road Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	50 Austin Rd	Stockbridge	30281	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 389-6556	414	34	12.3	77.8%	23 (5.6%)	279 (67.4%)	78 (18.8%)	6 (1.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.3%)	42.1	650^th of 1222 public elementary schools	46.8%		29.7	838^th of 1238 public elementary schools	32.3%	188	32.3	41.6	34.5				53.5			$16,699	$931	$15,768

Frequently Asked Questions about Murphey Candler Elementary School

How many students attend Murphey Candler Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 512 students attended Murphey Candler Elementary School.

What district is Murphey Candler Elementary School in?

DeKalb County

What is the racial makeup of Murphey Candler Elementary School?

Students at Murphey Candler Elementary School are 92% African American, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Is Murphey Candler Elementary School a good school?

Murphey Candler Elementary School ranks in the bottom 16.0% of Georgia elementary schools.

Rate Murphey Candler Elementary School!

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Latest Georgia data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataAug 6, 2026

2025–26 Milestones Assessment scoresAug 6, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 Milestones Assessment scores (updated)Aug 6, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesFeb 19, 2026

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