Located in the heart of Salt Lake County, Murray City School District is 12.3 square miles of land, with boundaries that primarily follow Murray City boundaries, with the exception of an annexed segment that runs east of 900 East. Murray share’s borders with neighboring including Taylorsville, Holladay, South Salt Lake, Millcreek, and West Jordan (Canyons, Jordan, Granite, and Salt Lake School Districts). Our central location and established infrastructure, including major interstates and public transit lines, contribute to accessibility and convenience.

Mission: Every Student – Every Opportunity – Every Day

Core Values (Vision)

• Lifelong Learning – We cultivate curiosity, adaptability, and a love for learning to prepare students for an ever-changing world. (Utah’s Portrait of a Graduate Alignment:  Lifelong Learner, Hardworking, Critical Thinker)

• Empowered Leadership – We encourage students and educators to take initiative, make responsible decisions, and inspire positive change. (Utah’s Portrait of a Graduate Alignment: Communicator, Leader, Ethical & Global Citizen)

• Collaboration & Community – We value teamwork, respect perspectives, and engage in meaningful partnerships to strengthen our schools. (Utah’s Portrait of a Graduate Alignment: Collaborator, Communicator, Service-Oriented, Civic-Engaged)

• Creativity & Innovation – We foster an environment where students think outside the box, solve complex problems, and embrace new ideas. (Utah’s Portrait of a Graduate Alignment: Creative Thinker, Innovator, Critical Thinker)

• Ethical Responsibility – We promote integrity, accountability, and ethical decision-making in all aspects of learning and leadership. (Utah’s Portrait of a Graduate Alignment: Ethical & Global Citizen, Self-Aware)

• Resilience & Perseverance – We empower students to overcome challenges, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and develop a strong work ethic. (Utah’s Portrait of a Graduate Alignment: Resilient, Hardworking, Well-Rounded)

At the core of Salt Lake County, the Murray City School District (MCSD) stands as a unique and independent educational system, a testament to a community's resolve to shape its own educational future. Its establishment in 1906 was a direct response to a valley-wide consolidation proposal that threatened to divert local tax revenues. By strategically annexing land to achieve second-class city status, Murray ensured its ability to operate an independent school district, a pivotal moment in Utah's history as the first city to change its classification for this purpose.

The question of MCSD's autonomy has been periodically re-evaluated, most notably in a 1987 independent study. This report affirmed the district's structure, citing advantages such as a favorable tax rate, low bonded indebtedness, strong representation, and sustainable school populations. Beyond financial benefits, the study highlighted the profound sense of community pride derived from Murray's comprehensive and independent civic services, concluding that absorption into a larger district would diminish the unique local identity fostered over decades.

Recent events continue to underscore the value of localized governance. In 2003, a land annexation involving the Granite School District resulted in a mutual agreement to maintain existing school boundaries, demonstrating successful inter-district cooperation. Furthermore, state legislation in 2006 enabled the division of larger districts, leading to the creation of the Canyons School District, and in 2024, voters in Alpine School District followed suit, creating three smaller districts. These trends validate the idea that smaller, more localized educational systems can offer significant benefits.

Today, the Murray City School District thrives, celebrated by its community for its close-knit atmosphere and rich traditions. The direct accessibility and responsiveness of its administrators and board members are highly valued. The "we are Murray" spirit continues to embody the district's proud and enduring independence within the evolving landscape of the Salt Lake Valley.

District Fact Sheets are produced following enrollment updates in the Fall of each year.

• 2024 Fact Sheet
• 2023 Fact Sheet
• 2022 Fact Sheet
• 2021 Fact Sheet
• 2020 Fact Sheet

Each year, MCSD and our partners, recognize personnel in different ways, as shown below:

• Teachers of the Year (1978 to Present)
• Educational Support Professional of the Year (1983 to Present)
• Licensed Professional of the Year (2023 to Present) 
• Laura Baker Professional Learn Grant Recipients (2011 to Present)
• PTA End of Year Awards (2011 to Present)
• MEF Pinnacle Award Recipients (2004 to Present)

Special thanks to Family Search International for providing MCSD with scanned PDF files of nearly all our Murray High School Year Books. We are missing only a handful: 1932, 1933, 1934, 1944, and 1948. If you have one of these years in your possession or think you might know of someone who does, we would love to create a digital file for this archive. Contact Doug Perry at the District Office at 801-264-7400 or info@murrayschools.org