Payson Unified District (4209) School District
School District · Payson, Arizona
Avg Rating
6.8
out of 10
Schools
4
2 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
2,283
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
Avg Rating
6.8
out of 10
Schools
4
2 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
2,283
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
How this district compares
Arizona rank
#48 of 203
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.5
above Arizona avg
Per-pupil spending
$11,456
+$280 vs Arizona median
District size
2,283 students
Larger than Arizona median
The short answer
Payson Unified District (4209) ranks #48 of 203 Arizona districts by overall school rating. Payson Unified District (4209)'s schools with real test data average 6.8/10 across 4 schools. Its top-rated schools are Payson Elementary School (8.8/10), Julia Randall Elementary School (6.9/10), and Payson High School (6.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +0.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Payson Unified District (4209) schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Payson Unified District (4209)
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (4 of 4). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Payson Elementary School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Julia Randall Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Payson High School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Rim Country Middle School | 5.6 / 10 |
See all 4 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Payson Unified District (4209)
Payson Unified District (4209) is a Payson, Arizona school district serving 4 schools.The district educates 2,283 students with a student-teacher ratio of 17.7:1. District-level spending was $11,456 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.8/10, Payson Unified District (4209) demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Payson Elementary School, which has a composite score of 8.8/10.
In standardized testing, Payson Unified District (4209) students show an average math proficiency of 38.4% and ELA proficiency of 49.2%.
The district includes 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Payson Unified District (4209), colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Payson Unified District (4209) with test data.
Schools in Payson Unified District (4209)
4 schoolsElementary Schools2
Middle Schools1
High Schools1
District Details
- State
- Arizona
- City
- Payson
- Total Enrollment
- 2,283
- Teachers (FTE)
- 129
- District spending per student
- $11,456NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 16.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Payson Unified District (4209)?
Payson Unified District (4209) has 4 schools in total — 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Payson Unified District (4209)?
The average composite rating for Payson Unified District (4209) is 6.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Payson Unified District (4209)?
Payson Unified District (4209)'s district-level spending was $11,456 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Payson Unified District (4209)?
The average student-teacher ratio in Payson Unified District (4209) is 17.7:1.
What is the top-rated school in Payson Unified District (4209)?
Payson Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Payson Unified District (4209) with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What are the test scores in Payson Unified District (4209)?
Across schools in Payson Unified District (4209) with test data, the average math proficiency is 38.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 49.2%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Payson Unified District (4209) compare to other districts in Arizona?
Payson Unified District (4209) has an average school rating of 6.8/10 across 4 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Arizona by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 38.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 49.2%
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 rateOther School Districts in AZ
Compare Payson Unified District (4209) with neighboring districts in the state.
- Tucson Unified District (4403) (90)
- Mesa Unified District (4235) (78)
- West-Mec - Western Maricopa Education Center (80923) (59)
- Pima County Jted (89380) (55)
- East Valley Institute of Technology (4516) (50)
- Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) (45)
- Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) (44)
- Peoria Unified School District (4237) (44)
- Deer Valley Unified District (4246) (41)
- Gilbert Unified District (4239) (38)
- Washington Elementary School District (4260) (33)
- Scottsdale Unified District (4240) (30)
- Kyrene Elementary District (4267) (26)
- Dysart Unified District (4243) (25)
- Cartwright Elementary District (4282) (23)
- Tempe School District (4258) (23)
- Vail Unified District (4413) (23)
- Amphitheater Unified District (4406) (22)
- Sunnyside Unified District (4407) (22)
- Marana Unified District (4404) (20)
- Phoenix Union High School District (4286) (20)
- Roosevelt Elementary District (4279) (20)
- Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (6393) (19)
- Litchfield Elementary District (4281) (19)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Arizona Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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