Skip to main content
6.7avg / 10

Safford Unified District (4218) School District

School District · Safford, Arizona

Students: 2,895
Teachers (FTE): 127

Avg Rating

6.7

out of 10

Schools

6

3 elem, 1 mid, 2 high

Enrollment

2,895

Student-Teacher Ratio

22.8:1

How this district compares

Arizona rank

#60 of 203

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

+0.3

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 #60 of 203 Arizona districts by overall school rating. Safford Unified District (4218)'s schools with real test data average 6.7/10 across 6 schools. Its top-rated schools are Ruth Powell Elementary School (7.9/10), Lafe Nelson School (7.5/10), and Safford Middle School (6.8/10). 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.

#SchoolRating
1Ruth Powell Elementary School7.9 / 10
2Lafe Nelson School7.5 / 10
3Safford Middle School6.8 / 10
4Mt Graham High School6.3 / 10
5Safford High School6.0 / 10
6Dorothy Stinson School5.5 / 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 6.7/10, Safford Unified District (4218) demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is Ruth Powell Elementary School, which has a composite score of 7.9/10.

In standardized testing, Safford Unified District (4218) students show an average math proficiency of 40.8% and ELA proficiency of 46.9%.

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

Math Proficiency40.8%
School
State
Not reported
ELA Proficiency46.9%
School
State
Not reported

Average proficiency across all schools in Safford Unified District (4218) with test data.

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 6.7/10. 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)?

Ruth Powell Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Safford Unified District (4218) with a composite score of 7.9/10.

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 40.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 46.9%. 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 6.7/10 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
6.7/10
Math Proficiency
40.8%
ELA Proficiency
46.9%

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 rate

Other School Districts in AZ

Compare Safford Unified District (4218) with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in AZ →

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.

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.