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Below Average

#210 of 225 private schools in AZ

Payson Community Christian School

Elementary School

1000 E FRONTIER ST, Payson, AZ 85541

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on AZ statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

89

Student-Teacher

12.7:1

Score

4.6

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

Arizona elementary schools

#107 of 118

About Payson Community Christian School

Payson Community Christian School serves 89 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in Payson, Arizona. This elementary school maintains a close-knit learning environment with a student-teacher ratio of 12.7 to 1, supported by 7 full-time equivalent teachers. The school has earned a strong MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10, reflecting its commitment to student success.

While ranked #147 out of 225 schools statewide, placing it in the 35th percentile among Arizona elementary schools, the school's small size allows for individualized attention and personalized learning approaches that can benefit students across all grade levels. As a regular public school, Payson Community Christian School provides educational services to families in the local community, offering the stability and resources of the public school system while maintaining its distinctive character. The intimate school environment, with fewer than 100 students total, creates opportunities for students to participate actively in school activities and develop strong relationships with both peers and teachers.

The school is situated in Payson, a remote town in Gila County, where the mountain community setting provides a unique backdrop for learning and growing up away from urban distractions.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 89 students, Payson Community Christian School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

As a private school, Payson Community Christian School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$11,930
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$16,935
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.42x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
81%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$2.2M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 89 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Payson Community Christian School compares to the 4 public schools in Payson, AZ

Student-Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
This School
vs
17.2:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
89
This School
vs
555
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
4.6
This School
vs
6.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 78.7% vs 0%
Hispanic 13.5% vs 0%
Asian 1.1% vs 0%
Payson Community Christian School Payson Public Avg

All Schools in Payson

School Rating
Payson Community Christian School (this school) 4.6
Rim Country Middle School 6.2
Payson High School 7.5
Payson Elementary School 7.2
Julia Randall Elementary School 4.8

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in AZ.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B- 5.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 12.7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C 2.8 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.5 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,080
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C+ 4.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 27%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B- 5.3 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 89
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in AZ

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 78.7%
Hispanic 13.5%
Native American 6.7%
Asian 1.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1000 E FRONTIER ST, Payson, AZ 85541

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Payson Community Christian School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Pine Strawberry Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 13.6 miles away, in nearby Pine), which scores notably higher. Another option is Tonto Basin Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 25.0 miles away, in nearby Tonto Basin), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Young Elementary School (rated 8.1/10, 21.6 miles away, in nearby Young), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Payson, see our Payson schools guide .

Nearby Schools

11 within 39.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Rim Country Middle School Payson 1.3 mi 6.2
Payson High School Payson 1.5 mi 7.5
Payson Elementary School Payson 2.0 mi 7.2
Julia Randall Elementary School Payson 2.0 mi 4.8
Pine Strawberry Elementary School Pine 13.6 mi 9.0
Tonto Basin Elementary Tonto Basin 25.0 mi 8.4
Young Elementary School Young 21.6 mi 8.1
Young High School Young 21.6 mi
SOUTHWESTERN ACADEMY Rimrock 37.9 mi 9.0
Beaver Creek School Rimrock 39.2 mi 7.3
SEDONA SKY ACADEMY Rimrock 39.0 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85541 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$63,857

Median Home Value

$317,700

Median Rent

$1,290/mo

Population

23,323

College Educated

24%

Homeownership

80%

Avg Commute

19.1 min

Poverty Rate

10.5%

Median Age

60.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Payson Community Christian School has a median household income of $63,857. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $317,700, with a median rent of $1,290/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.5%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
La Paloma Academy Marana Tucson, AZ 4.6
REDEEMER LUTHERAN SCHOOL Tucson, AZ 4.6
Round Rock Elementary School Round Rock, AZ 4.6
Sequoia Lehi Charter School Mesa, AZ 4.5
CROSS OF GLORY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Peoria, AZ 4.7
Khalsa Montessori Elementary School - Phoenix Phoenix, AZ 4.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Payson Community Christian School

What grades does Payson Community Christian School serve?

Payson Community Christian School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Payson Community Christian School?

Payson Community Christian School has an enrollment of approximately 89 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Payson Community Christian School?

The student-teacher ratio at Payson Community Christian School is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Payson Community Christian School rank in AZ?

Payson Community Christian School is ranked #210 out of 225 private schools in AZ.

What is Payson Community Christian School's MySchoolScout rating?

Payson Community Christian School has a composite rating of 4.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Payson Community Christian School a private school?

Yes, Payson Community Christian School is a private coeducational school with a Other Religious affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Payson Community Christian School a religious school?

Payson Community Christian School has a Other Religious religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
Elevated (1,484/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Payson). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
89
Gender Split
45% M / 55% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
7
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Other Religious
School Day
7.5 hours
Days Per Year
144 days
Setting
Remote Town
County
GILA
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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