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The Benson Visitor Center, a replica of the Benson railroad stationPhoto: Richard N Horne · CC BY 4.0
B+
Schools in Benson · St. David Unified District, Benson Unified School District

Benson’s public schools outscore 69% of Arizona districts

The four-year graduation rate in Benson’s district is 92%, above the Arizona average (78%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Benson, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Arizona, not nationally.

#32of 139 Arizona townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arizona state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
42%
▲ 2 pts vs AZ 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
38%
▲ 3 pts vs AZ 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 12–16 pts vs AZ 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.5K
▼ 6% vs AZ $12.3K
FY2024 · Benson Unified
Students per teacher
17.0
AZ 17.2
Schools in town
4
1,195 students on the public path
In brief

Benson’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 143 Arizona towns with household incomes within a quarter of Benson’s, its schools beat 90%, higher than their 69% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 42% and math 38% across both districts in spring 2022, against 40% and 35% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

St. David Unified District spends $11,427 per student and Benson Unified $11,519, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Benson Digital Learning Center Online, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Benson’s grade

B Test scoresA− Graduation

B+: better than 69% of Arizona school districts, #32 of 139 Arizona towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Arizona average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Arizona school districts we grade (577)Better than 69%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arizona towns with similar household incomes (143)Better than 90%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 874 test results and a graduating class of 127 could put Benson anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Benson’s students in the tested grades sat them (879 in math, 868 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Benson, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Benson Primary SchoolBenson Unified School DistrictB
6–8Benson Middle SchoolBenson Unified School DistrictB
9–12Benson High SchoolBenson Unified School DistrictB−

Benson runs its own schools through grade 12 (St. David Unified District). From grade PK, students attend the Benson Unified School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Benson

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

St. David Unified DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 433 students, up 23% since 2020–21 · 16.5 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$11,427AZ $12,318 · FY2024
B
Benson Unified School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 1,287 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 17.2 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$11,519AZ $12,318 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, St. David Unified District36%
State average 40.4% · 202 students tested
Math · PK–12, St. David Unified District34%
State average 34.8% · 206 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Benson Unified School District44%
State average 40.4% · 666 students tested
Math · PK–12, Benson Unified School District39%
State average 34.8% · 673 students tested

Benson vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Arizona towns that share Benson’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BensonB+St. David Unified District PK–12 · Benson Unified PK–12

Every school in Benson

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Arizona’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Bensonby address
Benson Primary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
507 students19:1Rate it →
Benson Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
B
286 students22:1Rate it →
Benson High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
402 students14:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Benson Digital Learning Center
High · Grades 9–12
C+
Alternative Education
41 studentsRate it →
Online schools based in Bensonnot counted as local schools
Benson Digital Learning Center Online
Grades K–12
A−
Online
51 studentsRate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (CTD - Benson High School).

Questions about Benson’s schools

Are Benson’s schools good?

By Arizona’s own tests, yes: the public schools Benson children attend outscore 69% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #32 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 90%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Benson in?

Two districts: St. David Unified District runs grades PK–12, and Benson Unified School District runs grades PK–12.

Where do Benson kids go to high school?

Benson High School, with 402 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Benson’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Benson Unified School District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.

How much does Benson spend per student?

$11,427 in St. David Unified District and $11,519 in Benson Unified School District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Benson families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Benson → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Arizona. Stars are from neighbors.