Murch Vision
Every child will feel safe and welcome as they develop as a compassionate person and inquisitive learner. All children will be celebrated for their individuality and will be prepared to contribute positively to our school and the world.
Murch Mission
We are a diverse and progressive school whereby every student and their families are known, valued and respected. We collaborate to meet the needs of the whole-child through:
- Being fully inclusive.
- Committing to an equitable education.
- Implementing responsive classroom and embedding whole child principles.
- Dedicating instructional time for SEL to empower growth mindset, perseverance, empathy, compassion, and inclusion.
- Designing a professional learning structure where teachers and staff can collaborate across grades and content areas to develop a variety of differentiated instructional practices.
- Celebrating student learning in meaningful and a variety of ways.
- Welcoming parents and the community to be part of the learning and working with students to cultivate our school culture and values.
Colors: Blue and Gold
Mascot: The Mustang
Murch Values
- Academic excellence
- Cultural diversity
- The uniqueness of each child
- An authentic style of teaching and learning
- Mutual kindness and respect
- On-going faculty development
- Open communications among administrators, teachers, parents, and children
Murch Staff
| Homeroom Classroom Teachers | 34 | |
| Classroom & General Aides | 7 | |
| Resource Teachers (Art, Library, Music, PE) | 5 | |
| Special Education Inclusion Teachers | 4 | |
| ELL (English Language Learners) Teachers | 5 | |
| Custodians | 5 | |
| Security | 2 | |
| Food Services | 3 |
Diversity
The cultural and ethnic diversity of our community greatly enriches the Murch experience. Students and faculty come from more than 30 different countries.
| 58% | White | |
| 16% | Black | |
| 11% | Asian | |
| 13% | Hispanic/Latino | |
| 2% | Multiple Races | |
| <1% | Pacific/ Hawaiian | |
| <1% | Native/Alaskan |
Amenities
In July, 2018, Murch moved into a renovated state-of-the art facility, which includes the following:
- playground for 1st-5th grade
- separate pre-K/K playground
- full sized gymnasium with stage
- dedicated cafeteria space
- updated media center/library
- green roofs and green technologies
- small group work rooms
- common areas at each grade level
Achievements
- National Safe Routes to School Oberstar Award (2009)
- U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School (2007)
Did you know?
Ben W. Murch, the school's namesake, was a prominent local educator and served as supervising principal of the public schools in Northwest DC from 1916 until his death in 1927.
Fun Fact:
The Murch HSA began as the Grant Road Portables Home and School Association. Their first meeting was in October 1928 and the agenda included the effort to replace trailers with a new school.