Murch Elementary School

What Murch Elementary School does

Murch Elementary School is a public elementary school operated by DC Public Schools (DCPS), serving approximately 628 projected students in PreK through 5th grade for the 2026-27 school year at its 4810 36th Street NW campus in Washington, D.C. The school delivers a standard DCPS-aligned academic curriculum enhanced by a whole-child educational model through its TRANSCEND partnership, a Responsive Classroom approach, Response to Intervention (RTI) processes, and arts integration via the Murch Arts Hub. Academic performance is a distinguishing characteristic: Murch students scored better than 92% of DCPS elementary schools in ELA and 95% in Math on PARCC assessments.

The school's programming extends beyond the core academic day through Murch Plus (an after-school enrichment program offering 15+ courses to over 300 students), DCIAA athletics for 4th and 5th graders, the Blue & Gold student newspaper (active for 10+ years), Student Council, and Peer Mediators. Before/after care is provided through two vendor partnerships: Future Stars (selected for 2026-27 to replace Capitol Language Services after 15+ years) and Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day. There is no proprietary technology platform; the school uses standard DCPS educational technology infrastructure.

The business model is that of a government-funded public institution. Primary operational funding comes from the DCPS central office budget allocation; tuition is not charged. Ancillary revenue is generated through HSA fundraising, including the Support Our School (SOS) campaign (approximately $68,000-$88,000 annually), the annual Spring Auction, Fall Fair, and a $75 Family Membership required for Future Stars before/after care enrollment. The Murch Home and School Association (HSA) is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the school through fundraising and community engagement. Enrollment is managed through the DCPS centralized lottery system via the ASPEN portal, with prospective families directed through the official district enrollment process.

Name

Murch Elementary School

Legal name

Murch Home and School Association (Murch HSA)

Website

https://murchschool.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Murch Elementary School is a DC Public Schools elementary school serving approximately 628 students in PreK through 5th grade in Washington, D.C., offering DCPS-aligned academics, arts and athletics enrichment, and before/after care through vendor partnerships, funded primarily by DCPS budget allocation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Elementary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

Keywords

• Public elementary education
• Before and after care
• After-school enrichment programs
• Arts and athletics programs
• Student support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. DCPS Public Funding: Primary operational funding from DC Public Schools central office budget allocation
2. HSA Fundraising - Support Our School (SOS) Campaign: Annual fundraising campaign supporting field trips, Green Scene, art/music/PE supplies, after-school programs like Murch Plus, Spring Musical, scholarships. Reached approximately $68,000-$88,000 annually.
3. Annual Auction: Major annual fundraiser (e.g., 2017 Gatsby Glitz Glam raised significant funds; 2018 Masquerade Soiree; 2026 Auction upcoming). Sponsorships and donations support school resources.
4. Aftercare Fees: Future Stars before/after care requires $75 family membership plus program fees. Capitol Language Services provided aftercare for 15+ years at market rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Murch Elementary School provides tuition-free public elementary education for grades PreK through 5th grade under DC Public Schools (DCPS). The school delivers core academic instruction aligned with DCPS Standards, supplemented by before/after care through partner vendors (Future Stars and Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day), an after-school enrichment program (Murch Plus with 15+ courses), arts programming through the Murch Arts Hub, athletics via DCIAA for grades 4-5, and a student-run newspaper (Blue & Gold).

Product overview

Murch Elementary School is a DC Public Schools elementary institution offering a comprehensive educational program. The school's product portfolio includes core academic programs, enrichment activities through Murch Plus (after-school clubs), the Murch Arts Hub (visual and performing arts), the student-run Blue & Gold Newspaper, DCIAA athletics for grades 4-5, and before/after care services through partners Future Stars and Wonders Extended Day. The school also supports student leadership through Student Council and Peer Mediators programs. These offerings are provided as part of the public school educational package rather than as distinct commercial products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core Academic Program (PreK-5) Tuition-free DCPS-aligned core academic instruction for students in PreK through 5th grade, covering DCPS Standards and supplemented by Response to Intervention (RTI) supports.
• Murch Plus After-School Enrichment Program After-school enrichment and club program offering over 15 courses (chess, dancing, karate, and more) with over 300 students enrolled in SY23-24, available to Murch students.
• Murch Arts Hub Spotlight on musical, visual, and performing arts programming at Murch, featuring student artwork, music instruction, and performing arts programs for enrolled students.
• Blue & Gold Student Newspaper Murch's student-run newspaper publishing for over 10 years, featuring student reporters covering school news, interviews, and book reviews.
• DCIAA Athletics Program Official DCPS Interscholastic Athletic Association sports program for 4th and 5th graders, including cross-country and other competitive sports.
• Future Stars Before & After Care Before and after-school care provided by Future Stars starting in SY26-27, offering extended care hours, after-school clubs, enrichment options, and flexible enrollment; requires an annual $75 Family Membership.
• Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day Before and after-school care provider that complements and extends the regular school day at Murch, with summer camp offerings also available.
• Student Council Student-led leadership organization that sponsors school spirit events and activities for Murch students.
• Peer Mediators Program Student mediators who help resolve conflicts among peers, supporting a positive school climate.

Quantifiable outcome

• Murch students scored better than 92% of DCPS elementary schools in ELA on PARCC assessments
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Future StarscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 March 2026Future Stars replaces Capitol Language Services as Murch's before- and after-care vendor for 2026-27 school year. Offers extended care hours, wide selection of after-school clubs and enrichment options, lower overall costs for families, and flexible enrollment options. All families must purchase $75 Family Membership before enrolling in programs.
• Capitol Language Services (CLS)minorOthersFormer aftercare provider that served Murch for more than 15 years. Partnership concluded at end of SY25-26.
• Wonders Early Learning + Extended DaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBefore and after school care provider continuing at Murch for 2026-27 alongside Future Stars. Complements and extends the school day for families needing childcare coverage.
• TRANSCENDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting schools in implementing the whole-child model. Murch works with TRANSCEND to foster development of the whole child through their Strong Start practices and rituals.
• DC Public Schools (DCPS)coreOthersDCPS is the governing school district. Principal Cebrzynski reported directly to DCPS; school follows DCPS standards, calendars, and policies. SY26-27 Principal selection process managed by DCPS.
• D.C. Food ProjectminorOthersCommunity partner supporting Murch Food Pantry initiative, helping provide food security resources to families.
• Forest Hills ConnectionminorOthersLocal media outlet that featured Murch's Blue & Gold student newspaper, highlighting 10 years of student journalism.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Key Elementary School (DCPS): DCPS public elementary school located in the Cleveland Park/Foggy Bottom area, serving similar grade bands with a comparable enrichment and parent-engagement profile. Direct peer due to shared DCPS governance, similar Tenleytown-area demographic, and overlapping program offerings.
• Mann Elementary School (DCPS): DCPS elementary school in Northwest DC operating under identical district funding and policy framework with comparable parent engagement. Direct peer as another DCPS elementary in the same competitive geography.
• Stoddert Elementary School (DCPS): DCPS elementary in Glover Park serving similar grade bands under the same district funding and policy regime. Comparable as a same-district public elementary competing for similar out-of-boundary families.
• Eaton Elementary School (DCPS): DCPS elementary in the Cathedral Heights/Bethesda area with comparable demographics and an active HSA fundraising model. Direct peer in the DCPS elementary competitive set for out-of-boundary lottery families.
• Janney Elementary School (DCPS): DCPS elementary school in the Tenleytown neighborhood of Washington DC, immediately adjacent to Murch's catchment. Highly comparable as a same-district public elementary serving overlapping families with similar program breadth.
• Peabody Elementary School (DCPS): DCPS elementary in the Capitol Hill/SW Waterfront area with comparable enrichment model and an active parent community. Direct peer as another DCPS elementary operating under the same governance regime.
• Hearst Elementary School (DCPS): DCPS elementary in the Palisades/Northwest DC area with similar PreK-5 grade span and district funding. Direct peer sharing governance, demographics, and program model.
• Hyde-Addison Elementary School (DCPS): DCPS elementary in the Georgetown/Logan Circle area with an active PTA and similar PreK-5 programming. Direct peer sharing district governance and competing for similar DC families.
• Ross Elementary School (DCPS): DCPS elementary in the Dupont Circle area with a strong parent association and similar enrichment programming. Comparable as another DCPS public elementary competing for the same pool of DC families.
• Lafayette Elementary School (DCPS): DCPS elementary school in the Chevy Chase DC area serving PreK-5 with an active HSA and similar parent-funded enrichment model. Direct peer due to shared district governance, grade span, and community-funded programming structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/murchschoolfamilies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/murch-elementary-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Murch Elementary School