Dorothy McElhinney Middle

www.murrieta.k12.ca.us

1,396 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Dorothy McElhinney Middle School, located in Murrieta, California, is a highly regarded public middle school serving students in grades 6 through 8. As part of the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, the campus is known for its commitment to academic excellence and a student-centered environment. The school emphasizes a well-rounded education, offering a rigorous curriculum that balances core academic subjects with opportunities for personal growth, character development, and social-emotional learning.

Beyond the classroom, the school fosters a vibrant campus culture that encourages student participation in a wide array of extracurricular activities, including athletics, performing arts, and various student-led clubs. Dorothy McElhinney Middle is recognized for its dedicated staff and strong community involvement, which work in tandem to provide a supportive transition from elementary school to high school. By leveraging technology and fostering collaborative learning, the school aims to prepare its diverse student body for future success in higher education and beyond.

1,396

Total Students

52.5

Full-Time Teachers

26.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

48.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Dorothy McElhinney Middle
Demographic	Student Count
White	463
Hispanic	554
Black	99
Asian	119
Two or More	151
American Indian	4
Pacific Islander	6

Hispanic
554 (39.7 %)
White
463 (33.2 %)
Two or More
151 (10.8 %)
Asian
119 (8.5 %)
Black
99 (7.1 %)
Pacific Islander
6 (0.4 %)
American Indian
4 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Murrieta Valley Unified
Phone:	(951)304-1885
Website:	http://www.murrieta.k12.ca.us
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	1,396
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	52.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	26.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	440
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	231

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 491

Grade 7 453

Grade 8 452