Murchison Middle School opened in 1967 and has grown to become one of the most sought-after schools in the district. The Murchison Matadors achieved great outcomes on last year’s STAAR exam, and as a resultthe school earned academic distinction in Reading/ELA on the state’s most recent accountability ratings. Plus, it’s home to AISD’s Middle School Teacher of the Year, Alexa Humberson. Murchison also has an impressive outdoor classroom and offers IB classes at the middle school level, to prepare students for the IB program at nearby Anderson High. So it comes as no surprise there are so many families who want to send their children here.
Murchison Principal Sammilu Harrison greeted us warmly, and proved her exceptional hosting duties by helping us to our seats in the Murchison cafeteria, where hundreds of 8th grade students were enjoying their meal. And I mean hundreds. The cafeteria was packed with friendly and mature 8th graders.
After lunch, we toured the school, including Mrs. Owens' video production class, and, in a nearby classroom, we played an ice breaker game called "Would You Rather?" (I can't wait to do it with our principals and central administrators at Expanded Cabinet!) Students and teachers were beaming with excitement about the new school year and pride for their school, but my visit did shed some light on how so many families want their students to be Murchison Matadors that we’re running out of places to put them all.
Murchison’s functional capacity is at 1,374 students; however, the enrollment this year is about 1,500 so it fills really full especially in the "common areas" such as the cafeteria, library, etc. We are fortunate that there is indoor courtyard space to accommodate the overflow, but that's only when the weather is good.
AISD made plans to expand the cafeteria and add new classrooms as part of Proposition 2 in the 2013 bond program, which did not pass. So AISD is faced with a challenge as we look forward and try to address the overcrowding at this northwest Austin school. However, we will continue doing what we know how to do by being creative with our facility use to help meet the needs of our students, families and staff members.
![]()
I learned a lot about the promising things our students are accomplishing, and I have trust that our community and staff will continue to work with me and think creatively to help this Austin school continue to achieve great things.
I learned a lot about the promising things our students are accomplishing, and I have trust that our community and staff will continue to work with me and think creatively to help this Austin school continue to achieve great things.