Murray Middle School

2200 Buford Avenue

School District

St. Paul Public
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for St. Paul Public School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on July 17, 2024

If I had to rate this school I would give it a zero it’s the worst school for your kid to go to my child was smart and now he got neglected and doesn’t like life anymore because he got bullied for 2 years I am going to enroll him in a different school
Submitted by student on February 11, 2023

This school dosn't care about you, seems to reward bad behavior, leaves good students in the dust, and i will be amazed if you learn something. This school just feels like a place that they keep innocent kids locked up for 6 hours a day without teaching them anything. Consider other schools first
Submitted by student on March 08, 2022

They are treating us unfairly if we do not where masks they single us out and make us feel like we are selfish. But i would still recommend it here.
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2020

So far, it has been a good experience. I feel that I can be honest and work with the adults in the school. Middle School is hard in general because there are so many changes in the 2-3 years that students are growing. The students have a lot of energy and it is great to see them thinking and giving ideas about the world they live in.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2017

It's overall a pretty decent school, it's very easy-going on assignments but some of the teachers are very rude to students or just have the stupidest rules or sayings. It's social environment is pretty fun but can get a bit dangerous sometimes( talking about the fights). Btw, if your kid ends up in accelerated science or Magnet Science, they're probably going to have to finish science fair right before starting history day and that sucks to be honest. I consider it to be unfair because not all the 7th or 8th graders have to do it, plus some kids might purposely try to get a decent or below average grade the year earlier or most likely in 6th grade so that they won't have to be forced into science fair. Yes that is a thing that actual kids do, because some schools are that petty.
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2015

Murray has improved in every way since last year. There are fewer kids in the school, many of the major issues had to do with eighth graders who have now moved on and the Principal, Assistant Principal and staff work together and communicate together and with the families very well. Problems have been acknowledged and have been and continue to be addressed. There will be a round table again this April and I hope families with any ongoing concerns come and raise them in order to keep the school getting stronger and broaden the voice of families. I believe they will find the school management respectful and open to ideas and input. I have become more involved this year and am happy to be working to be part of positive change.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2014

My family never regretted leaving Murray this year.At one time we actually considered Ramsey. Now that school has more problems this year than Murray. Parents please switch to Charter Schools. We did and my student said they are so happy to be out of st.Paul schools. They were afraid to go to the bathroom because they did not feel safe. Also .teachers have lesson plans not just worksheets that they constantly lose.
Submitted by parent on July 27, 2014

Despite it's problems, Murray provided both my kids with an excellent education and they were well-prepared for honors classes in high school. My last just left Murray this Spring. There are a lot of current complaints about Murray (about discipline) and a lot of "white flight" with parents pulling their kids out for private or charter schools, but Murray is actually quite a good school. It was a few years ago, and it still is now. The teachers are surprisingly good. I was amazed at how good my kids' history, language and English teachers were. Murray kids do great at the state science and history fairs. Lots of participation in extra-curricular activities. It's about as good as you can get in an urban middle school. Yes, there are some discipline issues, but that's something that they are working on with a discipline committee, etc. My kids felt safe at all times.
Submitted by other on July 22, 2014

Teachers don't really care about you, and most teacher doesn't really bother with kids who are being bullied. Lots of kids and teachers are very disrespectful. I see MANY kids skipping class almost everyday and they have MANY cameras, yet don't talk with them.
Submitted by teacher on July 21, 2014

Murray is an awful school. It was terrible with the previous administration and continues to be terrible with the new administration. Students lack respect for adults and peers and are not held accountable for their actions. I have honestly never seen anything like it. The classes are clearly segregated. I honestly do not understand how SPPS gets away with this type of blatant disregard for student success. My child has been bullied, stolen from and treated unfairly by administration- even told I was being dramatic when asked that bullying be addressed. Teachers rarely if ever return emails and calls. Several teachers wait until grades are due to post them on the portal and then students lack time to correct their grades. Also, classwork and homework only count for 10% of students grades. Children are taught that they don't have to do the work- just test and retest until they "pass". This school, for lack of a better word- SUCKS. My advice to any parent considering or zoned for this school is to apply to charters and magnets and pray, chant, meditate, etc. that your child/children are accepted.
Submitted by parent on March 21, 2014

Murray used to be a very good school. Our first child had two excellent years here--classes were academically first rate, and the social atmosphere was positive. Since the new Principal and staff have come, the school has declined. Our second child is very frustrated by the constant disciplinary problems which teachers are faced with. Students who are disrespectful to students and teachers are called down to the office for only a few minutes, only to come back to the class and continue their behavior. The teachers spend more time trying to gain control of their class than actually teaching. This Principal will not punish or discipline these types of students, and it is affecting the students who are there to learn. In this last year, whenever I stop by the school during the day, students are roaming and running in the halls. The language and tone of voice is often completely inappropriate. No one in the office seems to be in control, or even cares that these students are not in class. They are not allowed to scold them, and consequently, the environment feels like these types of students are actually running the school. Sad to see that the teachers are not supported.
Submitted by parent on December 14, 2013

The new principle is fantastic. My daughter is a 6th grader - in the first class of 6th graders to be added to Murray. The roll out was a bit of a logistical mess for the first week, but the kids all seemed happy. It got sorted out. My daughter is thriving here. She loves math for the first time in years! The science program is also excellent. Fabulous teachers in both! Lots of opportunities for gifted and talents, as well as tons of remedial and tutoring support. Great (and free) after school programming. I was disappointed by the lack of a health curriculum, but the principle was extremely responsive to my concerns. She already had a health curriculum in the works with some 'emergency' classes to take place in homeroom this year. From other parents, it seems that bullying and fighting have been a problem in the past. I'm not sure how they managed it, but it does not seem to be a problem now. I wanted to send my child to a school that is: racially and economically diverse, excellent academically, and public. It doesn't seem like that should be so hard, but apparently it is. I feel Murray is doing all these things well. Both my daughter and I are very happy with it.