Payson Unified District (4209)

902 W Main St
Payson, AZ 85541-4887
(District boundaries shown in map)
6/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Payson Unified District (4209) ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Arizona for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public schools serving 2,144 students in Payson Unified District (4209). This district's average testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in Arizona.
Public Schools in Payson Unified District (4209) have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the Arizona public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 41% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 36% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Arizona public school average of 67% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (AZ)
# Schools
5 Schools
2,478 Schools
# Students
2,144 Students
1,110,658 Students
# Teachers
132 Teachers
62,141 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Payson Unified District (4209), which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 601 school districts in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has increased from 72% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (AZ)
#288 out of 618 school districts
(Top 50%)
25%
34%
36%
40%
23%
24%
87%
77%
(2022-23)
46.8%
41.2%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.52
0.66
% American Indian
3%
5%
% Asian
n/a
3%
% Hispanic
28%
49%
% Black
1%
6%
% White
64%
33%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $11,922 is higher than the state median of $11,558. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,241 is less than the state median of $11,459. The school district spending/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
This School District
This State (AZ)
Total Revenue
$26 MM
$12,837 MM
Spending
$24 MM
$12,727 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,922
$11,558
Spending / Student
$11,241
$11,459

Best Payson Unified District (4209) Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Payson High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
301 S Mclane Rd
Payson, AZ 85547
(928) 472-5788
Gr: 9-12 | 733 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #22.
Julia Randall Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
902 W Main St
Payson, AZ 85547
(928) 468-2600
Gr: 2-5 | 503 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #33.
Rim Country Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
304 S Meadow St
Payson, AZ 85547
(928) 472-3062
Gr: 6-8 | 478 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #44.
Payson Center For Success - Online
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19% )
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
902 W Main St
Payson, AZ 85547
(928) 472-5891
Gr: 7-12
Rank: n/an/a
500 East Rancho Road
Payson, AZ 85547
(928) 472-5801
Gr: K-2 | 430 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 32%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Payson Unified District (4209)?
Payson Unified District (4209) manages 5 public schools serving 2,144 students.
What is the rank of Payson Unified District (4209)?
Payson Unified District (4209) is ranked #302 out of 601 school districts in Arizona (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Arizona school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 20%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Payson Unified District (4209)?
64% of Payson Unified District (4209) students are White, 28% of students are Hispanic, 4% of students are Two or more races, 3% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Payson Unified District (4209)?
Payson Unified District (4209) has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is lower than the Arizona state average of 17:1.
What is Payson Unified District (4209)'s spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $11,241 is less than the state median of $11,459. The school district spending/student has grown by 15% over four school years.

Recent Articles

Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 5 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,144 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 36%
  • : 87% (Top 20% in AZ)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 25% (Top 50%)
  • : 36% (Btm 50%)
  • : 23% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

Quick Links