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Murphey Candler Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1177^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,238 Georgia Elementary Schools

Better than 5% of Georgia elementary schools

Summary

Murphey Candler Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Lithonia, Georgia, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 496 students. The school is part of the DeKalb County School District, which is ranked 131 out of 206 districts in Georgia and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Murphey Candler Elementary School consistently performs below the DeKalb County and Georgia state averages in the Milestones Assessment for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science across all grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 12.8% of 3rd graders, 14.5% of 4th graders, and 17.7% of 5th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 29.1% and 34.9% at the county and state levels, respectively. The school has been ranked in the bottom 10% of Georgia elementary schools for the past several years and has received a 0 or 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating it is among the lowest-performing schools in the state.

When comparing Murphey Candler Elementary School to the nearby schools in the DeKalb County district, it consistently performs worse academically. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the percentage of 5th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts ranged from 10.1% at Murphey Candler to 22.4% at Fairington Elementary and 42.9% at Leadership Preparatory Academy (a charter school). Despite the relatively high spending per student at Murphey Candler Elementary School, the academic outcomes remain significantly below the county and state averages, suggesting that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution to improving the school's performance.

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: Declining — 18th percentile in 2015 → 5th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Georgia average (15% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (5th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school15%

District avg33%

Georgia avg42%

1,177^th of 1,238

Georgia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 5%▼ down 13 pts since 2015

From bottom 18% (2015) to bottom 5% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

71^st of 81Elementary Schools in the DeKalb County

131^st of 206DeKalb 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
2025	10.4	1177 of 1238	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.0	1038 of 1248	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.5	1074 of 1242	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.2	1050 of 1244	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
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%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Georgia (2024-2025) ?

Science17%-27 vs state

Mathematics15%-30 vs state

English Language Arts15%-24 vs state

★

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Schools Near Murphey Candler Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Milestones Assessment English Language Arts (2025)						Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2025)						Milestones Assessment Science (2025)		Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2025)	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	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	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 8th Grade	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%)	10.4	1177^th of 1238 public elementary schools	4.9%		18	1038^th of 1248 public elementary schools	16.8%	139	12.8	14.5	17.7				10.1	16.9	19.0				16.7			$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%)	11.6	1152^nd of 1238 public elementary schools	6.9%		11.3	1168^th of 1248 public elementary schools	6.4%	16	12.2	20.7	17.4				13.7	21.9	17.3				15.0			$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%)	41.6	665^th of 1238 public elementary schools	46.3%		43.6	645^th of 1248 public elementary schools	48.3%	20	57.1	25.9	42.9	42.9	52.2	55.0	67.9	11.1	14.3	28.6	43.5	45.0	19.0	30.0	30.0	$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%)	9.5	1189^th of 1238 public elementary schools	4.0%		12.8	1143^rd of 1248 public elementary schools	8.4%	46	16.3	10.4	22.4				17.5	14.1	4.5				10.4			$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%)	13.9	1114^th of 1238 public elementary schools	10.0%		28.9	875^th of 1248 public elementary schools	29.9%	239	25.0	13.5	19.7				17.7	19.4	9.4				21.1			$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%)	4.4	1236^th of 1238 public elementary schools	0.2%		9.7	1195^th of 1248 public elementary schools	4.2%	41	3.7	7.2	10.1				10.4	4.3	7.0				6.3			$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%)	15.1	1090^th of 1238 public elementary schools	12.0%		9.7	1196^th of 1248 public elementary schools	4.2%	106	20.3	18.3	12.5				35.1	13.3	13.9				12.7			$21,882	$2,340	$19,543
Lorraine Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3343 E Fairview Rd SW	Stockbridge	30281	Rockdale 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%)	39.8	687^th of 1238 public elementary schools	44.5%		42.6	655^th of 1248 public elementary schools	47.5%	32	35.8	31.0	35.4				34.9	31.0	26.3				46.3			$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%)	56.1	489^th of 1238 public elementary schools	60.5%		61.5	440^th of 1248 public elementary schools	64.7%	49	34.7	46.2	55.1				35.8	62.8	32.6				39.3			$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%)	29.7	838^th of 1238 public elementary schools	32.3%		29	872^nd of 1248 public elementary schools	30.1%	34	25.8	23.7	31.3				27.3	23.7	31.3				40.6			$16,699	$931	$15,768

Frequently Asked Questions about Murphey Candler Elementary School

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 4.9% of Georgia elementary schools.

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

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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.