RITA MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Set in Bismarck, North Dakota, RITA MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is a well-populated K-5 school, part of BISMARCK 1. It educates 367 students across grades K through 5. By comparison, North Dakota's public schools average about 212 students each, so RITA MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL sits 73% larger than that benchmark.

BISMARCK 1 runs 26 schools in total, collectively educating 14,086 students. RITA MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is one of those campuses.

In terms of who attends, RITA MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL shows that White students make up the majority at 69%. The remainder breaks down as 11% multiracial, 7% Hispanic, 6% Native American, 3% Black. The wider county runs roughly 86% White, putting the school's mix visibly less White than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Staff filings list 25 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 14.6:1 students per teacher. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 11.4:1, putting RITA MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL higher than the state norm the norm. About 33% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. Set against Burleigh County (around 24%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

In the broader community, the surrounding county (Burleigh County) logs that median household earnings sit near $86,851, roughly 39% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 5%. RITA MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is one of 37 public schools in Burleigh County (combined enrollment of about 14,427 students).

Nearest neighbor: SIMLE MIDDLE SCHOOL, around 1.0 miles off. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

The campus sits in an inner-city setting.

Looking at the recent track record. RITA MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL's enrollment has edged down 39% since 2018, when it stood at 598 (now 367). White enrollment moved from 88% to 69% across the same window. Class-load math has fell: from 16.9:1 in 2018 to 14.6:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, members of the RITA MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL community share and discuss classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. The community welcomes input from current and former families.