Best Schools in Payson, Utah
8 schools · 5 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High
Choosing a school in Payson?
Use this page to compare every school in Payson by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Taylor School
Elementary · Nebo District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Park View School
Elementary · Nebo District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Mt. Nebo Middle
Middle · Nebo District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Payson for 2026 are Taylor School (7.3/10), Park View School (6.6/10), and Mt. Nebo Middle (5.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
8
in this city
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$423,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
8
in this city
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$423,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.3/10 despite 45% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Payson schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Payson
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taylor School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Park View School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Mt. Nebo Middle | 5.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Spring Lake School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Wilson School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Payson High | 5.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Barnett School | 5.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Payson JR High | 2.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.5/10
- Median household income
- $94,152
- Median home value
- $423,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 29%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 86%
13% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Payson compares
Utah rank
#70 of 84
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.8
below Utah avg (6.3)
Median household income
$94k
110% of Utah median
Schools in this city
8
About Schools in Payson, Utah
Payson, Utah is home to 8 schools, including 8 public schools. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
With an average rating of 5.5 out of 10, schools in Payson show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Payson is Taylor School with a composite score of 7.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Payson is served by 1 school district: Nebo District. These districts collectively serve 44,446 students.
Payson's community shows 29% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $94,152. The poverty rate in the area is 5.5%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 419 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.3 |
| 2 | 357 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.6 |
| 3 | 567 students · Pre-K–6th | 5.8 |
| 4 | 367 students · Pre-K–6th | 5.4 |
| 5 | 511 students · Pre-K–6th | 5.0 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,104 students · 6th–7th | 5.9 |
| 2 | 1,111 students · 7th–9th | 2.9 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,601 students · 6th–12th | 5.1 |
Schools in Payson
Payson, Utah · 8 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$94,152
Median Home Value
$423,200
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Population
29,502
College Educated
29%
Homeownership
86%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Community Profile
Payson has a median household income of $94,152. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $423,200, with a median rent of $1,398/month. The local poverty rate of 5.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Utah
- Elementary
- 5
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Utah
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Payson, Utah
How many schools are in Payson, Utah?
Payson has 8 schools, including 8 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Payson, Utah?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Payson is 5.5 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Payson, Utah?
The top-ranked school in Payson on MySchoolScout is Taylor School with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Payson, Utah?
The top-ranked elementary school in Payson on MySchoolScout is Taylor School with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Payson, Utah?
The top-ranked middle school in Payson on MySchoolScout is Mt. Nebo Middle with a composite score of 5.9/10.
What is the best high school in Payson, Utah?
The top-ranked high school in Payson on MySchoolScout is Payson High with a composite score of 5.1/10.
How many school districts serve Payson, Utah?
Payson is served by 1 school district: Nebo District.
What is the education level in Payson, Utah?
According to Census data, 29% of adults in Payson have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Payson, Utah?
The median household income in Payson is approximately $94,152 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Payson, Utah?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Payson is 22.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Payson, Utah?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Utah Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.