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Below Average

#1658 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Safford Middle School

Middle School · Safford Unified District (4218) · Safford, AZ

A Safford Unified District (4218) middle school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.

698 W 11TH ST, Safford, AZ 85546

  • Math 25% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 35% proficient (2022)
  • 22.8:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.1Below Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.93 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.1Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency25% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency35% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency30% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)39% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-9.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile44th
Resources & Environment3.2Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.8:1
District spending per student$10,262
Chronic Absenteeism58.4%

Students at Safford Middle School score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. AZ average.

Math Proficiency25%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency35%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 6 points since 2019, to 30% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
61%
ELA
81%
2010
Math
61%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
63%
ELA
80%
2012
Math
65%
ELA
85%
2013
Math
71%
ELA
84%
2014
Math
28%
ELA
29%
2015
Math
39%
ELA
35%
2016
Math
35%
ELA
39%
2017
Math
38%
ELA
44%
2018
Math
35%
ELA
37%
2019
Math
35%
ELA
37%
2020*
Math
26%
ELA
38%
2021*
Math
26%
ELA
38%
2022
Math
25%
ELA
35%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 43% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 28 test records from AZ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

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

The neighborhood

Where Safford Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 63Somewhat Walkable
  • Bike 54Bikeable
  • County Safety: Low134/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$61,930

Median home value

$192,700

Median rent

$930/mo

College educated

13.1%

Homeownership

75.7%

Poverty rate

15.1%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 85546; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

1 from a 5-mile search

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Thatcher Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.17–82.9 mi301Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Safford Unified District (4218)

Schools in district
6
Rank in district
#6 of 6
District spending per student
$10,262NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
19.5%Census SAIPE · 2024

Safford Middle School is listed in Safford Unified District (4218); a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Safford Middle School

Safford Middle School is a public middle school in Safford, AZ, part of Safford Unified District (4218), serving approximately 411 students in grades 7th-8th with a 22.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,658 of 2,006 schools in AZ. State assessment records show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Safford Middle School

What grades does Safford Middle School serve?

Safford Middle School serves students in grades 7th through 8th.

How many students attend Safford Middle School?

Safford Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 411 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Safford Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Safford Middle School is 22.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Safford Middle School rank in AZ?

Safford Middle School ranks #1,658 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is Safford Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Safford Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Safford Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Safford Middle School has 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Safford Middle School a charter school?

No, Safford Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Safford Middle School a Title I school?

No, Safford Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
7th – 8th
Enrollment
411
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
18
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Graham County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
58.4%
Area population (ZIP 85546)
20,735
Area average commute
23.7 min
Area median age
35.5
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 85546; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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