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Rita Murphy Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

177^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 216 North Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 18% of North Dakota elementary schools

Summary

Rita Murphy Elementary School is a public elementary school in Bismarck, North Dakota, serving 374 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Bismarck 1 School District, which is ranked 67 out of 134 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite having access to resources and staffing, Rita Murphy Elementary School consistently underperforms compared to the Bismarck 1 district and the state of North Dakota in both math and reading proficiency across all grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's math proficiency rate for all grades was 34%, compared to 47% for the Bismarck 1 district and 41% for the state. Similarly, the school's reading proficiency rate for all grades was 30.5%, compared to 42% for the district and 40% for the state. The school also struggles to support the academic achievement of certain student subgroups, with its ranking for female students, low socioeconomic status students, and military-connected students consistently in the bottom quartile of North Dakota elementary schools.

When comparing Rita Murphy Elementary School to nearby schools within the Bismarck 1 district, it becomes evident that the school is underperforming academically. For instance, Roosevelt Elementary School, which is only 2.56 miles away, consistently outperforms Rita Murphy in both math and reading proficiency, with significantly higher scores across all grade levels. The high percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients at Rita Murphy Elementary School suggests that the school serves a population with a lower socioeconomic status compared to the district and state averages, which may be a contributing factor to the school's academic challenges.

367

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,218

Per pupil spending ?

33.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

611 N 31st St
Bismarck, ND 58501

(701) 323-4190

District: Bismarck 1

Students who attend Rita Murphy Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Simle Middle School
High:	Legacy High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.5%

Two or more races:

10.6%

Hispanic:

7.1%

See top rated North Dakota elementary schools

Compare Rita Murphy Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 32nd percentile in 2016 → 18th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Dakota average (33% vs 40% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (18th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 14 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school33%

District avg44%

North Dakota avg40%

177^th of 216

North Dakota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 18%▼ down 3 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of North Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th of 18Elementary Schools in the Bismarck 1

67^th of 134Bismarck 1 among North Dakota 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 Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	27.2	177 of 216	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.9	165 of 217	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.3	162 of 215	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	47.0	125 of 217	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.9	128 of 207	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2020	39.1	140 of 203	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.3	140 of 203	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.7	151 of 202	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	35.1	156 of 199	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	41.5	131 of 194	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	32.9	143 of 181	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	41.2	164 of 217	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	48.3	141 of 217	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	61.2	81 of 195	58.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	23.8	129 of 143	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.3	112 of 138	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.3	115 of 137	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	39.8	92 of 141	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.5	83 of 132	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2020	46.6	78 of 132	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.9	78 of 132	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.5	94 of 130	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	37.5	97 of 128	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	39.1	91 of 123	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	37.8	80 of 109	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	22.2	92 of 101	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	22.9	85 of 93	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	26.6	80 of 88	9.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.3	54 of 64	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	44.7	36 of 64	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2020	35.7	68 of 88	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.8	68 of 88	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.8	62 of 87	28.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	11.5	80 of 81	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	28.6	67 of 74	9.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	45.0	82 of 143	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.6	109 of 138	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	44.9	79 of 137	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.6	75 of 141	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.2	96 of 132	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2020	27.8	113 of 132	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.0	113 of 132	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.2	111 of 130	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	24.9	115 of 128	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	47.7	76 of 123	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	30.8	89 of 109	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2023	26.2	10 of 12	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	47.3	45 of 83	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.8	43 of 79	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.7	22 of 71	69.0%	★★★★☆
2022	53.6	30 of 75	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.4	38 of 62	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2020	45.4	41 of 66	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.9	40 of 66	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.2	37 of 54	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.6	38 of 53	28.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	46.2	34 of 51	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

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)

White (2025)46th percentile+28 vs school

Male (2025)43rd percentile+25 vs school

Military Connected (2023)17th percentile-8 vs school

Female (2025)10th percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)9th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs North Dakota (2024-2025) ?

Math34%-7 vs state

Science34%-4 vs state

Reading30%-10 vs state

3.7

3 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, January 4, 2019

Murphy's teachers and staff are caring and compassionate. I couldn't ask for a better environment for my children to grow. They are truly a wonderful group of individuals. Close Quote

Schools Near Rita Murphy Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				A-Plus Math (2025)				A-Plus Reading (2025)				A-Plus Science (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	A-Plus Math 3rd Grade	A-Plus Math 4th Grade	A-Plus Math 5th Grade	A-Plus Math All Grades	A-Plus Reading 3rd Grade	A-Plus Reading 4th Grade	A-Plus Reading 5th Grade	A-Plus Reading All Grades	A-Plus Science 4th Grade	A-Plus Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Rita Murphy Elementary School	Public	K-5	611 N 31st St	Bismarck	58501	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 323-4190	367	25	14.5	33.2%	255 (69.5%)	12 (3.3%)	26 (7.1%)	4 (1.1%)	22 (6.0%)	9 (2.5%)	39 (10.6%)	27.2	177^th of 216 public elementary schools	18.1%		31.9	165^th of 217 public elementary schools	24.0%	12	34.0	34.0	44.0	34.0	24.0	29.0	34.0	30.5	34.0	34.0	$16,218	$1,841	$14,377
Pioneer Elementary School	Public	K-5	1400 Braman Ave	Bismarck	58501	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 323-4220	203	19	10.5	42.9%	129 (63.5%)	5 (2.5%)	18 (8.9%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (8.9%)	6 (3.0%)	27 (13.3%)	22.4	187^th of 216 public elementary schools	13.4%		34	158^th of 217 public elementary schools	27.2%	29	29.5	24.0	39.0	24.0	29.5	29.0	29.5	28.0	34.0	34.0	$17,250	$2,334	$14,915
Robert Place Miller Elementary School	Public	K-5	1989 N 20th St	Bismarck	58501	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 323-4170	485	34	14.3	36.9%	313 (64.5%)	29 (6.0%)	38 (7.8%)	22 (4.5%)	37 (7.6%)	3 (0.6%)	43 (8.9%)	27.7	175^th of 216 public elementary schools	19.0%		41.5	138^th of 217 public elementary schools	36.4%	37	29.0	44.0	44.0	36.0	24.0	29.0	34.0	28.0	29.0	29.0	$14,944	$1,812	$13,132
Jeannette Myhre Elementary School	Public	K-5	919 S 12th St	Bismarck	58504	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 323-4200	258	22	11.5	65.9%	112 (43.4%)	11 (4.3%)	49 (19.0%)	3 (1.2%)	41 (15.9%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (16.3%)	21.1	190^th of 216 public elementary schools	12.0%		14.7	204^th of 217 public elementary schools	6.0%	14	29.5	39.0	34.0	34.0	19.5	19.5	24.0	18.0	39.0	39.0	$21,051	$3,472	$17,579
Will-Moore Elementary School	Public	K-5	400 E Ave E	Bismarck	58501	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 323-4270	232	24	9.6	41.8%	107 (46.1%)	14 (6.0%)	30 (12.9%)	13 (5.6%)	34 (14.7%)	2 (0.9%)	32 (13.8%)	20.7	193^rd of 216 public elementary schools	10.6%		28	179^th of 217 public elementary schools	17.5%	14	29.0	29.0	29.0	29.0	29.5	29.5	39.5	30.5	19.5	19.5	$17,082	$2,467	$14,615
Northridge Elementary School	Public	K-5	1727 N 3rd St	Bismarck	58501	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 323-4210	410	37	11.2	37.3%	279 (68.0%)	20 (4.9%)	21 (5.1%)	8 (2.0%)	24 (5.9%)	14 (3.4%)	44 (10.7%)	56.7	81^st of 216 public elementary schools	62.5%		46.9	120^th of 217 public elementary schools	44.7%	39	49.0	59.0	49.0	52.0	24.0	49.0	34.0	39.0	59.0	59.0	$16,335	$1,771	$14,564
Dorothy Moses Elementary School	Public	K-5	1312 Columbia Dr	Bismarck	58504	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 323-4180	390	31	12.7	61.0%	163 (41.8%)	29 (7.4%)	43 (11.0%)	6 (1.5%)	62 (15.9%)	39 (10.0%)	48 (12.3%)	24.6	181^st of 216 public elementary schools	16.2%		34.9	156^th of 217 public elementary schools	28.1%	25	19.0	39.0	34.0	29.0	14.0	29.0	39.0	23.0	39.0	39.0	$16,184	$2,678	$13,506
Bismarck Elementary Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	K-5	806 N Washington St	Bismarck	58501	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	No	(701) 323-4101	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)											$2,972	$598	$2,373
Roosevelt Elementary School	Public	K-5	613 W Avenue B	Bismarck	58501	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 323-4240	113	8	13.7	28.3%	84 (74.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (12.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (8.8%)	78.3	22^nd of 216 public elementary schools	89.8%		62.2	64^th of 217 public elementary schools	70.5%	42	79.0	69.0	69.0	69.0	20.0	64.5	59.5	49.0	54.5	54.5	$18,031	$1,782	$16,249
Grimsrud Elementary School	Public	K-5	716 W St Benedict Dr	Bismarck	58501	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 323-4150	180	18	10.1	43.9%	100 (55.6%)	14 (7.8%)	24 (13.3%)	2 (1.1%)	3 (1.7%)	12 (6.7%)	25 (13.9%)	32.5	164^th of 216 public elementary schools	24.1%		26.6	183^rd of 217 public elementary schools	15.7%	19	19.5	49.0	19.5	29.0	29.5	39.5	29.5	29.0	49.0	49.0	$22,492	$2,266	$20,227

IMPORTANT NOTE: North Dakota does not publish exact assessment percentages; instead, results are reported as ranges (e.g., 20-29%) to protect student privacy in smaller groups. The proficiency rates displayed on SchoolDigger are calculated using midpoint imputation—the center value of each reported range. Actual values may differ by up to 5 percentage points from the figures shown.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rita Murphy Elementary School

How many students attend Rita Murphy Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 367 students attended Rita Murphy Elementary School.

What district is Rita Murphy Elementary School in?

Bismarck 1

Is Rita Murphy Elementary School a good school?

Rita Murphy Elementary School ranks in the bottom 18.1% of North Dakota elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Rita Murphy Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Rita Murphy Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Simle Middle School
High : Legacy High School

What is the racial makeup of Rita Murphy Elementary School?

Students at Rita Murphy Elementary School are 69% White, 11% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 6% American Indian, 3% African American, 2% Pacific Islander, 1% Asian.

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

About North Dakota Assessment Data: To protect student privacy, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction reports assessment results as percentage ranges rather than exact values. SchoolDigger calculates proficiency rates using midpoint imputation, which uses the center value of each reported range. For example, a reported range of 20-29% is represented as 24.5%. As a result, the proficiency rates shown may vary by approximately ±5 percentage points from actual values. This variance is most significant for individual grade/subject combinations and diminishes when data is aggregated across multiple grades or subjects.

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.