School History

Murch Elementary School has a long history of educational excellence and community support. In the 1920s, neighborhood parents formed the District’s first Home and School Association to press for construction of a new school. After four temporary buildings were erected on the Murch site, the HSA pushed for a permanent, more satisfactory solution. The result was the building we know today, dedicated on May 2, 1930, and named after Ben W. Murch, a prominent and well-loved local educator who came to Washington from Maine in 1887 and served as a principal and administrator for D.C. Public Schools from 1887 to 1927. Mr. Murch's favorite quotation was, "Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you." This philosophy has been shared and emphasized with each generation of Murch students.

The full history of the school was well documented by Ann Kessler, a Murch parent and historian in a wonderful booklet entitled, "A History of Ben W. Murch Elementary School 1930 – 1990," (PDF) is also available in the school library.

Accreditation 

In 1991, Murch became the first and only public elementary school in the District to be accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges. This association serves as a standard-setting association for the education community nationwide. To remain accredited, Murch must demonstrate improvement in its stated goals, update action plans, and prepare regular progress reports.  Murch was reaccredited in 2001, valid through 2012. 

School-wide Activities and Programs

Student Council: Each classroom in grade 2 – 6 elects a representative and an alternate to the Student Council in the fall. Officers are elected school-wide each spring for the following school year. The Student Council serves as a voice for students in establishing and/or impacting on Murch policies, sponsors fundraising events such as bake sales and Murch tee-shirt sales, and supports service to the school and larger community.

Peer Mediation: Selected students in grades 5 and 6 are trained in communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills in order to serve as peer mediators.  With adult supervision, they help fellow students resolve conflicts by allowing them to identify their problems and work out their own solutions.

Field Trips: Throughout the school year, Murch classes go on a variety of field trips in and around the Washington metropolitan area. We’re all so lucky to live in a location rich with cultural and historical resources! Examples of recent field trips include the Kennedy Center, the National Art Museum, the FDR Memorial, the Natural History Museum, and a dairy farm.

Notices of field trips are sent home with children, and parental permission must be given for each trip via the return of a signed form which is provided. When there is a fee for a field trip, any family that cannot afford it should inform the classroom teacher and arrangements will be made to have the fee waived. These requests are always kept confidential. Some trips involve travel on buses. Chaperones are often needed for field trips; please volunteer.