Best Schools in Murray, Utah: A Parent's Guide to Every Public and Charter School

When families call me about buying a home in Murray, the school question usually comes up in the first five minutes. And it should. In Murray, the answer is a little more interesting than in most Salt Lake County cities, because Murray is one of the few places in the valley with its own small city school district. On top of that, a slice of east Murray is served by Granite School District instead.

I live in Murray, just down the road from Cottonwood High School, so I see how these schools fit into daily life here. This guide lists every public and charter school serving Murray, then answers the questions parents ask me most.

How Murray's School System Is Organized

Most of Murray is served by Murray City School District, which runs seven elementary schools, two junior highs, and one high school, plus a preschool. The district serves about 5,600 students, and its boundaries mostly follow Murray City's boundaries.

The exception is an annexed area of Murray that runs east of 900 East. Homes there are in Granite School District, and those students typically attend Granite schools such as Woodstock Elementary, Bonneville Junior High, and Cottonwood High.

A big change is coming in fall 2027. Starting with the 2027–28 school year, Murray City School District is moving:

• 9th graders to Murray High School, into a new wing now under construction
• 6th graders to Hillcrest and Riverview, which will serve grades 6–8 as middle schools
• Riverview is being rebuilt, and students are scheduled to move into the new building in August 2027

So today Murray elementaries are K–6, the junior highs are 7–9, and Murray High is 10–12. From fall 2027, elementaries will be K–5, the middle schools 6–8, and Murray High 9–12. If you're buying now for a child in 4th grade or older, this affects which building they will be in and for how long.

Murray City School District Schools

Murray High School, seen from State Street in Murray. Photo: An Errant Knight, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A few notes parents find useful:

• Horizon Elementary offers a Spanish dual language immersion program starting in 1st grade. Students spend half the day learning in English and half in Spanish, and the program continues through high school. Applications for incoming 1st graders open in January, and a lottery is held if there are more applicants than seats.
• The Early Childhood Education Center is the district's preschool, on 6100 South just down the street from Liberty Elementary.
• Grant, Horizon, Viewmont, and Riverview sit in the 84123 ZIP code on Murray's west side. Liberty, Longview, McMillan, Parkside, Hillcrest, and Murray High are in 84107.

Granite School District Schools Serving East Murray

Cottonwood High School in east Murray, with the Wasatch Mountains behind it. Photo: Cliff 77, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

In Granite's feeder pattern, Woodstock Elementary feeds Bonneville Junior High, which feeds Cottonwood High. Granite assigns schools by address, so an east Murray home could be zoned for a different Granite elementary. Always check the specific address (more on that below).

Charter School in Murray

AMES is a free public charter high school that shares the building with Cottonwood High School but is its own school. It is an early college high school with a University of Utah partnership, so students can earn college credit in courses taught by university faculty at AMES. AMES students can also join Cottonwood's athletics, clubs, theatre, and music programs.

Charter schools don't have boundaries. Any Utah student can apply, and if a school has more applicants than seats it holds a lottery. Families in Murray also commute to charter schools in nearby cities, so if you have a specific charter in mind, tell me and we can factor the drive into your home search.

A Parent's Guide: Questions I Hear From Murray Families

How do school boundaries work in Murray?

Every home in Murray is assigned to a school district first, then to an elementary, junior high, and high school within that district. For most of Murray, that district is Murray City School District. For the annexed area east of 900 East, it's Granite School District.

Boundaries can also shift within a district. For example, starting in the 2024–25 school year, Murray City School District moved about 68 students living north of Fireclay Avenue and west of State Street from Parkside Elementary to Liberty Elementary. That's why I never rely on a map from a few years ago, or on what the seller's kids attended.

How can I check which schools a specific address feeds?

Use the district's own lookup tool, and use the exact street address:

• Murray City School District: School Locator and Bus Eligibility
• Granite School District: School Search Tool

If the Murray tool doesn't recognize the address, that's often a sign the home is in Granite, so try the Granite tool next. When I'm working with a family, I check the boundaries for every home before we tour it, and I recommend calling the school directly to confirm before you write an offer if a specific school is the deciding factor.

What is open enrollment, and can my child attend a school outside our boundary?

Yes, if there's room. Utah allows families to apply to a school outside their assigned boundary, including a school in a different district. In Murray City School District:

• The application window for 2026–27 ran from November 15, 2025 to February 7, 2026, and non-resident families were notified by March 31. Expect a similar winter window each year.
• Students who live inside the district but want a different Murray school also need to apply.
• There's a $5 non-refundable application fee, and each student can apply to only one school.
• Families who already hold a permit usually don't need to reapply unless they're changing schools.

Granite School District and each charter school run their own processes, so check with them directly. One important caveat: open enrollment is never guaranteed and depends on space each year. If a particular school matters a lot to you, buying inside that school's boundary is the only way to be sure.

How do schools affect home values in Murray?

School boundaries are one of the things buyers filter on first, so they shape who shows up to see a home. Here's what I watch for in Murray:

• The district line matters to some buyers. Some families specifically want Murray City School District's smaller, city-run schools. Others specifically want Cottonwood High or AMES. Knowing which side of that line a home sits on helps me price it and market it to the right buyers.
• The 2027 changes are worth understanding. A rebuilt Riverview campus and a new wing at Murray High are real investments in Murray's schools, and buyers with young kids will be asking about them.
• Boundary changes happen. A home that was in one elementary's boundary five years ago may be in another today. When I price a home, I compare it to recent sales in the same school boundaries, not just the same neighborhood.

What I won't do is promise that a certain school adds a certain dollar amount to a home. Every sale is different. What I can do is show you the recent sales data for the specific boundaries you're considering.

What should I ask when touring homes in Murray?

• Which elementary, junior high, and high school does this exact address feed, and which district is it in?
• Where will my child be after the fall 2027 grade changes?
• Is the home within walking distance, or eligible for busing? (The Murray locator tool shows bus eligibility.)
• If I'm counting on open enrollment, what are the deadlines, and what happens if the school is full?

How I Help Murray Families Find the Right School and the Right Home

I'm Mark Robinette, a Realtor with Real Broker, LLC, and I specialize in Murray. I live here, near Cottonwood High School, so these schools aren't just names on a map to me.

When you work with me, I start with the schools that fit your kids, then find the homes available near them. I'll confirm the boundaries for every home we look at, walk you through open enrollment timing, and help you think about how the 2027 grade changes affect your family.

If you're thinking about a move to Murray, reach out through my About page and let's talk about which schools matter most to you.

School information was verified against Murray City School District, Granite School District, and school websites in September 2026. Boundaries, programs, and enrollment dates change, so always confirm with the district before you buy.