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Charles P Murray Middle

Q: Is Charles P Murray Middle a good school?

Charles P Murray Middle ranks 89 th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

89^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 778 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 89% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

Charles P Murray Middle is a public grades 6–8 middle school in southern Wilmington, North Carolina, serving 907 students in the New Hanover County Schools district. It is the largest middle school among its nearby peers and one of the strongest performers in the region, consistently ranking in the top 10–15% of North Carolina middle schools: its most recent statewide rank was 89th out of 778 schools (89th percentile, 4 stars), following three consecutive 5-star years.

Murray’s end-of-grade proficiency rates exceeded both district and state averages in every subject and grade in 2025–2026. For example, 81.3% of 8th graders scored proficient in math, compared with 60.1% across New Hanover County Schools and 53.0% statewide; in 8th grade science, Murray’s 83.2% proficiency compared with 69.2% for the district and 68.6% for the state. Murray clearly outpaces every nearby middle school in the comparison group, including Roland-Grise Middle, its closest academic peer, and Myrtle Grove Middle, its nearest geographic neighbor. In 8th grade math, Murray’s rate was 81.3% versus 63.2% at Roland-Grise; in 8th grade reading, Murray posted 76.9% versus 68.7%.

Murray also shows notable effectiveness with student groups that often face structural challenges. Special education students ranked in the 97th percentile statewide, and low-income students ranked in the 93rd percentile. Chronic absenteeism is consistently below district and state averages — 19.3% versus 23.8% for the district and 24.2% statewide in the latest year. The main watch items are a recent dip in overall ranking (from 54th to 89th statewide) and a sharp decline in the African American subgroup’s statewide percentile ranking, which dropped from the 92nd percentile in 2022–2023 to the 43rd percentile in 2024–2025. Those trends warrant close monitoring even as Murray maintains an otherwise strong record of high performance.

907

Students ?

17.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

34.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

655 Halyburton Memorial Parkwy
Wilmington, NC 28412

(910) 790-2363

District: New Hanover County Schools

Students who attend Charles P Murray Middle usually attend:

High:

Eugene Ashley High

Feeder schools for Charles P Murray Middle:

Elementary:	Carolina Beach Elementary
	Edwin A Anderson Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.1%

Hispanic:

8.5%

Two or more races:

4.0%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare Charles P Murray Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 86th percentile in 2016 → 89th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (76% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of North Carolina middle schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school76%

District avg62%

North Carolina avg58%

89^th of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

84^th of 246New Hanover 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	85.6	89 of 778	88.6%	★★★★☆
2025	90.1	54 of 773	93.0%	★★★★★
2024	89.4	67 of 793	91.6%	★★★★★
2023	88.1	77 of 784	90.2%	★★★★★
2022	85.0	96 of 786	87.8%	★★★★☆
2021	83.1	99 of 741	86.6%	★★★★☆
2019	87.7	61 of 737	91.7%	★★★★★
2018	86.8	57 of 691	91.8%	★★★★★
2017	83.8	83 of 694	88.0%	★★★★☆
2016	81.3	98 of 692	85.8%	★★★★☆
2015	79.8	119 of 705	83.1%	★★★★☆
2014	82.8	87 of 627	86.1%	★★★★☆
2013	78.2	116 of 673	82.8%	★★★★☆
2012	77.1	120 of 662	81.9%	★★★★☆
2011	76.4	125 of 648	80.7%	★★★★☆
2010	73.3	152 of 640	76.3%	★★★★☆
2009	75.8	131 of 630	79.2%	★★★★☆
2008	71.7	160 of 620	74.2%	★★★★☆
2007	72.1	147 of 606	75.7%	★★★★☆
2006	71.2	150 of 598	74.9%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	40.4	311 of 546	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	74.6	94 of 560	83.2%	★★★★☆
2023	87.7	44 of 559	92.1%	★★★★★
2022	75.5	83 of 550	84.9%	★★★★☆
2021	80.2	53 of 533	90.1%	★★★★★
2019	91.0	33 of 519	93.6%	★★★★★
2018	93.3	19 of 494	96.2%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	62.3	84 of 449	81.3%	★★★★☆
2021	64.0	86 of 478	82.0%	★★★★☆
2019	65.5	103 of 504	79.6%	★★★★☆
2018	65.6	74 of 475	84.4%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	67.9	47 of 356	86.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	83.1	93 of 731	87.3%	★★★★☆
2025	90.8	49 of 733	93.3%	★★★★★
2024	88.3	72 of 738	90.2%	★★★★★
2023	88.2	71 of 731	90.3%	★★★★★
2022	80.7	124 of 733	83.1%	★★★★☆
2021	80.2	110 of 706	84.4%	★★★★☆
2019	87.5	52 of 684	92.4%	★★★★★
2018	85.1	72 of 656	89.0%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	67.1	124 of 465	73.3%	★★★★☆
2025	67.3	127 of 458	72.3%	★★★★☆
2024	70.5	77 of 461	83.3%	★★★★☆
2023	66.3	140 of 452	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	73.9	43 of 450	90.4%	★★★★★
2021	72.0	94 of 448	79.0%	★★★★☆
2019	68.8	90 of 416	78.4%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	70.3	122 of 566	78.4%	★★★★☆
2025	90.7	30 of 562	94.7%	★★★★★
2024	86.0	47 of 564	91.7%	★★★★★
2023	76.5	78 of 553	85.9%	★★★★☆
2022	79.3	62 of 541	88.5%	★★★★☆
2021	49.1	252 of 522	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.1	108 of 493	78.1%	★★★★☆
2018	55.6	181 of 472	61.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	86.7	52 of 725	92.8%	★★★★★
2025	88.6	46 of 729	93.7%	★★★★★
2024	87.3	52 of 743	93.0%	★★★★★
2023	85.9	49 of 735	93.3%	★★★★★
2022	79.6	80 of 689	88.4%	★★★★☆
2021	80.9	63 of 633	90.0%	★★★★★
2019	90.5	24 of 639	96.2%	★★★★★
2018	84.6	37 of 604	93.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	85.5	83 of 736	88.7%	★★★★☆
2025	88.5	61 of 733	91.7%	★★★★★
2024	89.2	63 of 751	91.6%	★★★★★
2023	86.2	82 of 747	89.0%	★★★★☆
2022	86.8	75 of 748	90.0%	★★★★★
2021	84.1	88 of 711	87.6%	★★★★☆
2019	86.8	65 of 697	90.7%	★★★★★
2018	88.0	53 of 665	92.0%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	66.7	86 of 328	73.8%	★★★★☆
2024	78.5	46 of 306	85.0%	★★★★☆
2023	67.3	81 of 302	73.2%	★★★★☆
2022	73.5	44 of 283	84.5%	★★★★☆
2021	70.6	50 of 248	79.8%	★★★★☆
2019	55.8	90 of 237	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	82.0	29 of 221	86.9%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	87.5	17 of 500	96.6%	★★★★★
2025	77.9	33 of 478	93.1%	★★★★★
2024	56.2	135 of 473	71.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	73.2	153 of 644	76.2%	★★★★☆
2025	80.7	106 of 649	83.7%	★★★★☆
2024	79.7	127 of 652	80.5%	★★★★☆
2023	76.2	143 of 656	78.2%	★★★★☆
2022	71.9	171 of 658	74.0%	★★★★☆
2021	72.6	153 of 632	75.8%	★★★★☆
2019	81.8	92 of 624	85.3%	★★★★☆
2018	78.0	103 of 596	82.7%	★★★★☆

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)

Special Education (2026)97th percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)93rd percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)89th percentile~ school

Female (2026)87th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2024)87th percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2022)81st percentile-6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)78th percentile-10 vs school

White (2026)76th percentile-12 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)74th percentile-19 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)73rd percentile-15 vs school

African American (2025)43rd percentile-50 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science83%+15 vs state

Mathematics78%+22 vs state

Reading71%+16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Charles P Murray Middle

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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)				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 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Charles P Murray Middle	Public	6-8	655 Halyburton Memorial Parkwy	Wilmington	28412	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 790-2363	907	52	17.5	34.3%	736 (81.1%)	35 (3.9%)	77 (8.5%)	19 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.4%)	36 (4.0%)	85.6	89^th of 778 public middle schools	88.6%		90.1	54^th of 773 public middle schools	93.0%	35	75.3	77.5	81.3	67.2	69.9	76.9	83.2	$8,277	$616	$7,661
Myrtle Grove Middle	Public	6-8	901 Piner Rd	Wilmington	28409	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 350-2100	600	40	14.9	—	336 (56.0%)	104 (17.3%)	114 (19.0%)	14 (2.3%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (4.8%)	65	248^th of 778 public middle schools	68.1%		68.6	215^th of 773 public middle schools	72.2%	33	70.8	61.9	62.6	60.0	62.4	57.6	68.0	$10,046	$1,051	$8,995
Roland-Grise Middle	Public	6-8	4412 Lake Ave	Wilmington	28403	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 350-2136	878	53	16.5	33.5%	602 (68.6%)	60 (6.8%)	164 (18.7%)	8 (0.9%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	40 (4.6%)	74.1	180^th of 778 public middle schools	76.9%		82.4	114^th of 773 public middle schools	85.3%	66	66.2	73.4	63.2	60.9	67.9	68.7	76.3	$8,894	$611	$8,283
Williston Middle	Public	6-8	401 S 10th St	Wilmington	28401	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 815-6906	666	47	14.0	—	80 (12.0%)	269 (40.4%)	274 (41.1%)	9 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.0%)	11.6	711^th of 778 public middle schools	8.6%		10.6	716^th of 773 public middle schools	7.4%	5	43.0	31.7	33.8	26.9	20.1	32.3	43.1	$12,800	$1,697	$11,103
South Brunswick Middle	Public	6-8	100 Cougar Drive BSL	Southport	28461	Brunswick County	Brunswick County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 756-6870	585	36	16.2	—	432 (73.8%)	44 (7.5%)	50 (8.5%)	8 (1.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (8.4%)	42.4	459^th of 778 public middle schools	41.0%		57.2	303^rd of 773 public middle schools	60.8%	156	57.6	55.5	35.1	44.1	51.6	51.2	70.8	$9,300	$1,106	$8,194
Town Creek Middle	Public	6-8	6370 Lake Park Drive SE	Winnabow	28479	Brunswick County	Brunswick County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 756-5320	540	34	15.7	—	357 (66.1%)	66 (12.2%)	73 (13.5%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (7.2%)	54.8	353^rd of 778 public middle schools	54.6%		54.8	331^st of 773 public middle schools	57.2%	22	68.2	54.7	51.1	55.4	59.0	55.3	63.1
M C S Noble Middle	Public	6-8	6520 Market St	Wilmington	28405	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	No	(910) 350-2112	690	40	17.3	38.3%	473 (68.6%)	86 (12.5%)	92 (13.3%)	7 (1.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.3%)	71.5	200^th of 778 public middle schools	74.3%		73.9	173^rd of 773 public middle schools	77.6%	27	70.7	76.9	57.8	64.4	66.7	60.9	70.7	$9,109	$612	$8,497
Leland Middle	Public	6-8	927 Old Fayetteville Road NE	Leland	28451	Brunswick County	Brunswick County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 371-3030	806	45	17.8	—	364 (45.2%)	191 (23.7%)	173 (21.5%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	74 (9.2%)	50.7	392^nd of 778 public middle schools	49.6%		36.9	494^th of 773 public middle schools	36.1%	102	54.2	51.7	55.7	47.4	56.3	58.2	70.7	$8,991	$1,326	$7,665
Emma B Trask Middle	Public	6-8	2900 N College Rd	Wilmington	28405	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 350-2142	611	41	14.8	—	301 (49.3%)	100 (16.4%)	138 (22.6%)	19 (3.1%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (8.2%)	62.4	274^th of 778 public middle schools	64.8%		61.2	274^th of 773 public middle schools	64.6%		70.4	62.7	60.6	52.2	59.1	58.5	71.0	$9,683	$828	$8,854
Holly Shelter Middle	Public	6-8	3921 Roger Haynes Dr	Castle Hayne	28429	New Hanover County	New Hanover County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(910) 602-4046	801	53	15.0	—	377 (47.1%)	160 (20.0%)	191 (23.8%)	19 (2.4%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (6.2%)	56.6	334^th of 778 public middle schools	57.1%		60	285^th of 773 public middle schools	63.1%	49	63.8	55.5	55.6	60.4	56.6	55.2	66.5	$10,215	$1,188	$9,026

Frequently Asked Questions about Charles P Murray Middle

How many students attend Charles P Murray Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 907 students attended Charles P Murray Middle.

What district is Charles P Murray Middle in?

New Hanover County Schools

What high school do graduates of Charles P Murray Middle attend?

Students who attend Charles P Murray Middle usually go on to attend Eugene Ashley High

Is Charles P Murray Middle a good school?

Charles P Murray Middle ranks 89^th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Charles P Murray Middle?

Students at Charles P Murray Middle are 81% White, 8% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 4% African American, 2% Asian.

Rate Charles P Murray Middle!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 graduation rates (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 attendance dataSep 2, 2026

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.