Safford Unified District (4218) School District
School District · Safford, Arizona
Avg Rating
6.9
out of 10
Schools
6
3 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
2,895
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.8:1
Avg Rating
6.9
out of 10
Schools
6
3 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
2,895
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.8:1
Evaluating Safford Unified District (4218)?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Safford Unified District (4218) as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Mt Graham High School
Safford · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Safford High School
Safford · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Dorothy Stinson School
Safford · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Arizona rank
#54 of 202
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.6
above Arizona avg
Per-pupil spending
$10,262
$914 vs Arizona median
District size
2,895 students
Larger than Arizona median
The short answer
Safford Unified District (4218) ranks #54 of 202 Arizona districts by overall school rating. Safford Unified District (4218)'s schools with real test data average 6.9/10 across 6 schools. Its top-rated schools are Mt Graham High School (7.7/10), Safford High School (7.4/10), and Dorothy Stinson School (7.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Top-Rated Schools in Safford Unified District (4218)
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (6 of 6). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mt Graham High School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Safford High School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Dorothy Stinson School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Lafe Nelson School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Ruth Powell Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Safford Middle School | 4.6 / 10 |
See all 6 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Safford Unified District (4218)
Safford Unified District (4218) is a Safford, Arizona school district serving 6 schools.The district educates 2,895 students with a student-teacher ratio of 22.8:1. District-level spending was $10,262 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.9/10, Safford Unified District (4218) demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Mt Graham High School, which has a composite score of 7.7/10.
In standardized testing, Safford Unified District (4218) students show an average math proficiency of 44.3% and ELA proficiency of 50.2%.
The district includes 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Safford Unified District (4218), colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Safford Unified District (4218) with test data.
Schools in Safford Unified District (4218)
6 schoolsMiddle Schools1
High Schools2
District Details
- State
- Arizona
- City
- Safford
- Total Enrollment
- 2,895
- Teachers (FTE)
- 127
- District spending per student
- $10,262NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 19.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Safford Unified District (4218)?
Safford Unified District (4218) has 6 schools in total — 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Safford Unified District (4218)?
The average composite rating for Safford Unified District (4218) is 6.9/10. 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 Safford Unified District (4218)?
Safford Unified District (4218)'s district-level spending was $10,262 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 Safford Unified District (4218)?
The average student-teacher ratio in Safford Unified District (4218) is 22.8:1.
What is the top-rated school in Safford Unified District (4218)?
Mt Graham High School is the highest-rated school in Safford Unified District (4218) with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What are the test scores in Safford Unified District (4218)?
Across schools in Safford Unified District (4218) with test data, the average math proficiency is 44.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 50.2%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Safford Unified District (4218) compare to other districts in Arizona?
Safford Unified District (4218) has an average school rating of 6.9/10 across 6 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
- 6.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 44.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 50.2%
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 Safford Unified District (4218) 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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