Murch Elementary School

Posted: October 22, 2025

Great academics, strong teaching staff, small class sizes, lots of extracurriculars, a beautiful renovated building and playground, and an active and engaged parent community!

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: June 6, 2017

Can only judge our experience with one teacher who was unwilling to differentiate her instruction to accommodate various learning styles.

Posted: June 6, 2017

Posted: June 6, 2017

Never saw the principal or the vice-principal except when they were promoting the school. I always felt I was being sold a bill of goods.

Posted: June 6, 2017

I have had no personal experience with the special education department as my child did not require sped services. However, I feel there is a lack of confidentiality there. I base this on a conversation I overheard while waiting in the office. The conference door was wide open and it clearly was a sped meeting.

Posted: June 6, 2017

Posted: June 6, 2017

I realize this school is now in transition due to the renovations being done at the original school site. I felt there were several safety concerns at the temporary site of portable classrooms from lax security to dangerous bus issues. These need to be rectified immediately.

Posted: June 6, 2017

Never had any homework assigned and no class work was ever sent home for review.

Posted: November 14, 2016

In the lower grades, there is only optional homework: parents are encouraged to read with their kids each day. This is in line with the research.

Posted: November 14, 2016

So far, they have been all excellent. There are a few that are said to be just OK, but some teachers are better for some students than others.

Posted: November 14, 2016

We are in 1st now, and have been very happy since pre-K. Our son has grown so much, and the teachers have really helped to develop his skills and challenge him to improve. Moving to the temporary site was a bit of a hiccup, but now everything seems to be settled down and not much of an issue.

Posted: November 14, 2016

I don't know of any bullying, so I can't speak to this.

Posted: November 14, 2016

Like all DCPS, it would help if there were more differentiation, but they make a concerted effort to provide supports on the high end and the low end.

Posted: November 14, 2016

Mr. C is a great principal. Responsive, organized, and a leader.

Posted: November 14, 2016

Kids for the more part are well-behaved, and seem to care for one another.

Posted: April 29, 2016

had a mixed experience. some teachers are great and some teachers will not do anything, very average. the sad part is that you can not pick your daughter/son's teacher. if you are stuck with an average teacher you are stuck. and if a teacher is great then you have a great year ahead of you when your child WANTS to go to school and loves to do homework. great experience depends on a great teacher. and if you go to the principal and try to assign your child to a different teacher then no luck. you are stuck with what you have.

Posted: April 29, 2016

if you are looking for homework that encourages your student to be better, push hard but still keep motivated and have fun at the same time then probably it will not be the case with math. I find science projects are good and writing are good as well. my younger one is in second grade and her teacher is great. homework is on parents though.

Posted: April 29, 2016

the teachers make an effort. some teachers are really great and make every effort to develop honesty, integrity and fairness.

Posted: April 29, 2016

5th grade math homework is for an average student. the math teacher says my daughter meets all DC math standards and she is the strongest in her class. homework she is given keeps her busy for 5 minutes only. she is bored in class. I had several discussions with her math teacher and asked for extra homework and engage her during the math activities at school. the teacher said she does not have any concerns over my daughter and she has other students to worry about. so if you are a parent who is looking for an individual approach for your son or daughter and if you are looking for a teacher who would adjust a level of assignments then you should keep your expectations low and try identify a tutor to keep your student motivated.

Posted: October 12, 2015

I can only speak from our experience. My daughter came from a gifted and talented program in Sarasota, Florida. ELA teacher at Murch insisted she would only address common core standards class as whole engaged in. My daughter, "went ahead" and thus, was, "not meeting grade level expectations."

Literally, ZERO work came home - Progress Report was first indication she was not performing well.

Posted: October 12, 2015

Homework in 3rd grade:
ELA - Write same 12 spelling words Monday - Thursday 1 x each. Read for 15 minutes
Math - 10 minutes of math which student or parent created; occasional workbook pages.

Posted: October 12, 2015

My daughter experienced bullying and poor teacher engagement. When issue continued, the guidance counselor created a "Friendship" group to address this issue across grade levels.

Posted: October 12, 2015

Murch is considered an above average school based on the caliber of it's students and their successful and highly engaged parents. Period. I've been an educator for over 20 years and I was shocked and very disappointed by, well, everyone and everything else...Parents beware.

Posted: April 5, 2014

Murch is amazing. My kid is having so much fun! There is one bad teacher out of a lot of staff but other than that Murch is amazing.

Posted: January 24, 2014

I used to go to Murch and hated everyday of school. I never wanted to go and I went there from Kindergarten to 5th grade and never liked. However, I learned well and was in a good place after Murch.

Posted: August 28, 2013

Excellent school, experienced teachers, dedicated principal and very engaged parents. Our kids love it there.

Posted: June 19, 2011

We strongly recommend this school! This school has a great principal leadership, very good teacher quality and a lot of parent involvement. Jose Marquez, Rubi Alonso (Mexico)

Posted: April 28, 2010

I love Murch so much because it cares about each student's education, very open and communicative with the parents, also has a vastly diverse school environment.

Posted: June 3, 2009

Posted: May 8, 2008

Posted: August 6, 2007