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Martins Creek Elementary

Q: Is Martins Creek Elementary a good school?

Martins Creek Elementary ranks 554 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

554^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 63% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Martins Creek Elementary is a small rural school in Murphy, NC, serving 137 students in grades PK-5 within Cherokee County Schools. Nearly all students (about 98%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school maintains a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio with roughly $14,033 in per-pupil spending. Its state ranking has been volatile: 4 stars in 2022-23 and 2023-24, a sharp drop to 2 stars in 2024-25, and a rebound to 3 stars (63rd percentile) in the most recent year.

The brightest spot is 3rd grade. Math proficiency (87.5%) and reading proficiency (83.3%) both vastly exceed district and state averages, and the reading result is more than 20 points above every nearby school, including Murphy Elementary at 63.4%. But that advantage fades by 4th and 5th grade, especially in math and science. Fourth-grade math is 47.6%, well below the state's 61.4% and far behind Peachtree Elementary at 78.3%. Fifth-grade science sits at 57.9%, below the state's 67.7% and Hayesville Elementary's 76.6%. Reading remains above state and district averages through 5th grade, so the challenge is specific to math and science, not all subjects.

Chronic absenteeism has improved from 38.1% in 2021-22 to 30.0% now—better than the district average (38.7%) and better than nearby Peachtree (50.6%) and Murphy (42.7%), though still above the state (24.2%). The school also earns strong marks for its economically disadvantaged students, ranking in the 77th percentile statewide. With only 137 students, though, proficiency rates shift dramatically with just one or two children, so rankings can vary year to year. The big question for parents is whether the current 3rd-grade cohort's success will carry through 4th and 5th grade, where math and science have recently lagged.

137

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

97.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

1459 Tobe Stalcup Road
Murphy, NC 28906-9802

(828) 837-2831

District: Cherokee County Schools

Students who attend Martins Creek Elementary usually attend:

High:

Murphy High

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.1%

Hispanic:

4.4%

African American:

2.2%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Martins Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 62nd percentile in 2016 → 63rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (66% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Above the North Carolina median (63rd percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school66%

District avg59%

North Carolina avg61%

554^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 37%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

122^nd of 246Cherokee County Schools among North Carolina districts

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

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.6	554 of 1492	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	36.1	979 of 1490	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	67.9	444 of 1505	70.5%	★★★★☆
2023	70.5	398 of 1502	73.5%	★★★★☆
2022	54.0	674 of 1514	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.7	707 of 1489	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.9	596 of 1473	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.4	454 of 1434	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	70.0	405 of 1429	71.7%	★★★★☆
2016	61.2	540 of 1425	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.3	656 of 1440	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	54.3	626 of 1390	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	72.7	320 of 1403	77.2%	★★★★☆
2012	55.8	678 of 1388	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	74.9	299 of 1381	78.3%	★★★★☆
2010	63.7	539 of 1363	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	73.3	331 of 1354	75.6%	★★★★☆
2008	78.0	219 of 1324	83.5%	★★★★☆
2007	77.6	209 of 1293	83.8%	★★★★☆
2006	60.0	536 of 1276	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.8	506 of 1447	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	22.1	1225 of 1451	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	66.7	425 of 1455	70.8%	★★★★☆
2023	67.5	422 of 1459	71.1%	★★★★☆
2021	65.2	430 of 1440	70.1%	★★★★☆
2019	72.8	336 of 1424	76.4%	★★★★☆
2018	74.0	329 of 1405	76.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.7	325 of 1434	77.3%	★★★★☆
2025	36.9	971 of 1437	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.6	542 of 1450	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	83.5	115 of 1361	91.6%	★★★★★
2018	78.5	175 of 1332	86.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	63.7	477 of 1450	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	78.0	264 of 1464	82.0%	★★★★☆
2023	97.1	7 of 1461	99.5%	★★★★★
2019	50.1	741 of 1430	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	65.5	463 of 1413	67.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	40.3	741 of 1146	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	11.7	1116 of 1172	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	42.3	722 of 1166	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.6	517 of 1183	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	34.8	837 of 1194	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.8	859 of 1172	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	42.7	731 of 1183	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.3	634 of 1178	46.2%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	58.5	300 of 793	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.4	374 of 784	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.6	353 of 786	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.6	319 of 741	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.4	347 of 737	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.0	242 of 691	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.2	309 of 694	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	67.1	208 of 692	69.9%	★★★★☆
2015	71.4	182 of 705	74.2%	★★★★☆
2014	81.3	102 of 627	83.7%	★★★★☆
2013	76.3	129 of 673	80.8%	★★★★☆
2012	60.7	302 of 662	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	75.8	133 of 648	79.5%	★★★★☆
2010	80.3	90 of 640	85.9%	★★★★☆
2009	82.9	63 of 630	90.0%	★★★★★
2008	80.4	88 of 620	85.8%	★★★★☆
2007	65.2	222 of 606	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	67.9	182 of 598	69.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	59.7	276 of 731	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.7	206 of 733	71.9%	★★★★☆
2021	75.1	153 of 706	78.3%	★★★★☆
2019	51.6	345 of 684	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.5	400 of 656	39.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	36.1	485 of 747	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	67.6	204 of 748	72.7%	★★★★☆
2019	53.6	329 of 697	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.6	176 of 665	73.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	48.6	332 of 652	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.7	413 of 656	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.9	433 of 658	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.5	400 of 632	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.6	449 of 624	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.9	378 of 596	36.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)77th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2025)67th percentile+33 vs school

Female (2026)65th percentile~ school

White (2026)35th percentile-28 vs school

Middle school

Female (2023)62nd percentile+10 vs school

White (2024)49th percentile-13 vs school

Male (2023)35th percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Reading69%+13 vs state

Mathematics66%~ state avg

Science58%-10 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, January 23, 2020

This is an amazing school with a strong focus in academics. My daughter attends and we both love the school. She is in Kindergarten and already reading at a 2nd grade level as is 25 of her classmates! A true gem in a rural area! Unfortunately our school district is pushing for consolidation of these community schools. Close Quote

Schools Near Martins Creek Elementary

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Ranking:

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Martins Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1459 Tobe Stalcup Road	Murphy	28906	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 837-2831	137	9	14.6	97.8%	122 (89.1%)	3 (2.2%)	6 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.2%)	61.6	554^th of 1492 public elementary schools	62.9%		36.1	979^th of 1490 public elementary schools	34.3%	425	87.5	47.6	57.9	83.3	63.6	57.9	57.9	$14,033	$1,512	$12,522
Murphy Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	315 Valley River Avenue	Murphy	28906	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 837-2424	467	39	11.9	—	386 (82.7%)	11 (2.4%)	18 (3.9%)	6 (1.3%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	42 (9.0%)	59.4	592^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	60.3%		52.9	692^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	53.6%	100	65.9	65.3	68.2	63.4	63.9	56.1	59.1	$12,640	$1,376	$11,264
Peachtree Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	30 Upper Peachtree Road	Murphy	28906	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 837-2479	166	14	11.6	97.6%	142 (85.5%)	2 (1.2%)	12 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.2%)	64.3	512^th of 1492 public elementary schools	65.7%		81.5	231^st of 1490 public elementary schools	84.5%	281	66.7	78.3	68.8	60.0	78.3	56.3	50.0	$14,802	$1,757	$13,045
Ranger Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	101 Hardy Truett Road	Murphy	28906	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 644-5111	264	20	13.3	—	241 (91.3%)	2 (0.8%)	13 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.0%)	45.1	823^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	44.8%		55.3	648^th of 1490 public elementary schools	56.5%	175	64.1	38.0	65.0	61.5	38.0	57.5	75.0	$11,981	$1,248	$10,733
Hayesville Elementary	Public	3-5	72 Elementary School Drive	Hayesville	28904	Clay County	Clay County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 389-8586	280	19	14.7	—	242 (86.4%)	1 (0.4%)	24 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.6%)	70.5	406^th of 1492 public elementary schools	72.8%		64.2	495^th of 1490 public elementary schools	66.8%	89	81.0	66.7	74.4	62.0	55.3	69.2	76.6	$10,584	$1,072	$9,511
Hayesville Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	698 Anderson St	Hayesville	28904	Clay County	Clay County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 389-3763	375	25	15.0	—	317 (84.5%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (10.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.8%)								(n/a)
Andrews Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	205 Jean Christy Ave.	Andrews	28901	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 321-4415	330	23	14.3	—	250 (75.8%)	12 (3.6%)	47 (14.2%)	2 (0.6%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.5%)	30.2	1090^th of 1492 public elementary schools	26.9%		22.4	1236^th of 1490 public elementary schools	17.0%	146	48.2	33.9	52.9	35.7	42.9	51.0	80.4	$12,783	$1,671	$11,111

Frequently Asked Questions about Martins Creek Elementary

How many students attend Martins Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 137 students attended Martins Creek Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Martins Creek Elementary attend?

Students who attend Martins Creek Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Murphy High

What district is Martins Creek Elementary in?

Cherokee County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Martins Creek Elementary?

Students at Martins Creek Elementary are 89% White, 4% Hispanic, 2% African American, 2% American Indian, 2% Two or more races.

Is Martins Creek Elementary a good school?

Martins Creek Elementary ranks 554^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Martins Creek Elementary!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

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.