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Murphys in WinterPhoto: Jakobemerson · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in Murphys · Bret Harte Union High School District, Vallecito Union Elementary School District

Murphys’s public schools outscore 73% of California districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Murphys, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Reading proficiency in Murphys’s districts is 53%, above the California average (47%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 94% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
53%
▲ 6 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
37%
▲ 4 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 4–8 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$26.0K
▲ 23% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024 · Bret Harte Union High
Students per teacher
18.2
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
984 students on the public path
In brief

Murphys’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 509 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Murphys’s, its schools beat 90%, higher than their 73% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Murphys runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Albert A. Michelson Elementary (K–5) and Avery Middle (6–8) are Murphys’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Bret Harte Union High School District with Angels: Bret Harte Union High in Angels Camp. See the path ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 53% and math 37% across both districts in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Bret Harte Union High spends $26,018 per student and Vallecito Union Elementary $20,247, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Murphys’s grade

B+ Test scoresB− Graduation

B+: better than 73% of California school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the California average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 73%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (509)Better than 90%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 507 test results and a graduating class of 177 could put Murphys anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 94% of Murphys’s students in the tested grades sat them (503 in math, 510 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Murphys, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–5Albert A. Michelson ElementaryVallecito Union Elementary School DistrictB+
6–8Avery Middlein AveryB+
9–12Bret Harte Union Highin Angels CampNo scores

Murphys runs its own schools through grade 8 (Vallecito Union Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Bret Harte Union High School District, shared with Angels. Its middle school is in Avery. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Murphys

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Bret Harte Union High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 2 schools · 602 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 17.2 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$26,018CA $21,206 · FY2024
B
Vallecito Union Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 3 schools · 597 students, up 16% since 2020–21 · 19.3 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$20,247CA $21,206 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Bret Harte Union High School District52%
State average 46.7% · 148 students tested
Math · 9–12, Bret Harte Union High School District22%
State average 33.1% · 142 students tested
Reading · K–8, Vallecito Union Elementary School District53%
State average 46.7% · 362 students tested
Math · K–8, Vallecito Union Elementary School District43%
State average 33.1% · 361 students tested

Murphys vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Murphys’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
MurphysB+Vallecito Union Elementary K–8 · Bret Harte Union High 9–12

Every school in Murphys

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Murphysby address
Albert A. Michelson Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
B+
226 students19:1Rate it →
Also serving Murphysin other towns
Avery Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Avery
B+
199 students18:1Rate it →
Bret Harte Union High
High · Grades 9–12 · Angels Camp
559 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Murphys’s schools

Are Murphys’s schools good?

By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Murphys children attend outscore 73% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 90%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Murphys in?

Two districts: Vallecito Union Elementary School District runs grades K–8, and Bret Harte Union High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Angels.

Where do Murphys kids go to high school?

Bret Harte Union High in Angels Camp, with 559 students.

What is Murphys’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Bret Harte Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Murphys spend per student?

$26,018 in Bret Harte Union High School District and $20,247 in Vallecito Union Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Murphys families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Murphys → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.