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#1088 of 2,000 schools in AZ

Safford Middle School

Middle School · Safford Unified District (4218)

698 W 11TH ST, Safford, AZ 85546

Enrollment

411

Student-Teacher

22.8:1

Score

6.1

Grades

7th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Safford

#4 of 7

public schools

Arizona middle schools

#130 of 218

In district

#4 of 6

Safford Unified District (4218)

Academic growth

7.4 / 10

Strong

About Safford Middle School

Safford Middle School is a regular public middle school serving students in seventh and eighth grade. Located in the remote town of Safford, Arizona, in Graham County, it has an enrollment of 411 students and a student-teacher ratio of 22.8:1 with 18 full-time equivalent teachers. According to MySchoolScout, the school's overall rating is 5.2 out of 10, placing it at the 45th percentile among Arizona schools.

In terms of academic performance, Safford Middle School has an ELA/Reading proficiency rate of 37% and a Math proficiency rate of 29%, indicating areas where focused improvement could benefit students. Safford Middle School is situated in a small, rural setting with limited neighborhood data available for specific insights. Despite the challenges of being in a remote area, the school community works to provide support and opportunities for its students.

What Parents Should Know

The student-teacher ratio at Safford Middle School is 22.8:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.4Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-2 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.0Above Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency25%
Reading/ELA Proficiency35%
Overall Proficiency30%
Expected (poverty-adj.)39%
vs. Expected-8.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile44th
Resources & Environment4.2Below Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$9,046

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

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 28.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 36.7%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from AZ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
35%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
26%
ELA
38%
2022
Math
25%
ELA
35%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.4/10.

How Safford Middle School Compares

See how Safford Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.1/10
46th percentile in AZ
Academic
6.0/10
6.0/10
Growth
7.4/10
Above average
Environment
4.2/10
Below average

Location

698 W 11TH ST, Safford, AZ 85546

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Safford Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Thatcher Middle School (rated 7.4/10, 2.9 miles away, in nearby Thatcher), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Pima Junior High School (rated 6.4/10, 7.8 miles away, in nearby Pima), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Safford, see our Safford schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 8.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Lafe Nelson School Safford 0.3 mi 6.8
Ruth Powell Elementary School Safford 0.5 mi 5.2
Triumphant Learning Center Safford 0.6 mi 4.9
Dorothy Stinson School Safford 0.8 mi 7.4
GIFT - Safford High School Thatcher 0.7 mi
Safford High School Safford 0.7 mi 5.3
Mt Graham High School Safford 1.7 mi 7.2
Thatcher High School Thatcher 2.5 mi 7.8
Thatcher Middle School Thatcher 2.9 mi 7.4
Eagle Online Academy Thatcher 3.0 mi 5.2
Thatcher Elementary School Thatcher 3.0 mi 7.3
Jack Daley Primary School Thatcher 3.1 mi 6.0
GIFT - Gila Institute for Technology Thatcher 3.1 mi
Solomon Elementary School Solomon 4.9 mi 5.2
Dan Hinton Accommodation School Pima 7.7 mi 7.9
Pima Junior High School Pima 7.8 mi 6.4
GIFT - Pima High School Thatcher 7.9 mi
Pima High School Pima 7.9 mi 5.5
Pima Elementary School Pima 8.0 mi 7.3
Gila Valley Learning Center Pima 8.0 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85546 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$61,930

Median Home Value

$192,700

Median Rent

$930/mo

Population

20,735

College Educated

13.1%

Homeownership

75.7%

Avg Commute

23.7 min

Poverty Rate

15.1%

Median Age

35.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Safford Middle School has a median household income of $61,930. It is a community where 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $192,700, with a median rent of $930/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.1%. The average commute for residents is 24 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
Fox Creek Jr High School Bullhead City, AZ 6.1
Crane Middle School Yuma, AZ 6.0
Greenway Middle School Phoenix, AZ 6.0
Imagine Cortez Park Middle Phoenix, AZ 6.0
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism Phoenix, AZ 6.2
Madison Park School Phoenix, AZ 6.2

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 is ranked #1088 out of 2,000 schools in AZ.

What is Safford Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Safford Middle School has a composite rating of 6.1 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.

What are the test scores at Safford Middle School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Safford Middle School has 28.7% math proficiency and 36.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

County Safety
Low (134/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
7th – 8th
Enrollment
411
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
18
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Graham County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Safford Unified District (4218)
District Enrollment
2,895
Schools in District
6
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,262
District Rank
#4 of 6

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

Related reading

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