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Safford, ArizonaPhoto: Ken Lund · CC BY-SA 2.0
B
Schools in Safford · Safford Unified District, Solomon Elementary District

Safford’s public schools outscore 61% of Arizona districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Safford, 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.

#59of 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
38%
▼ 2 pts vs AZ 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
36%
▲ 1 pts vs AZ 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
76%
▼ 2 pts vs AZ 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$10.8K
▼ 13% vs AZ $12.3K
FY2024 · Safford Unified District
Students per teacher
19.6
AZ 17.2 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
2,788 students on the public path
In brief

Safford’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 161 Arizona towns with household incomes within a quarter of Safford’s, its schools beat 73%, higher than their 61% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 38% and math 36% across both districts in spring 2022, against 40% and 35% statewide; 76% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Safford Unified District spends $10,752 per student and Solomon Elementary District $12,274, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Triumphant Learning Center is in town. 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 Safford’s grade

B Test scoresC+ Graduation

B: better than 61% of Arizona school districts, #59 of 139 Arizona towns. Both inputs trail the Arizona average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Arizona school districts we grade (577)Better than 61%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arizona towns with similar household incomes (161)Better than 73%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,512 test results and a graduating class of 262 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Safford’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,520 in math, 1,502 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–63 schoolsDepends on your addressB+
7–8Safford Middle SchoolSafford Unified DistrictB
9–12Safford High SchoolSafford Unified DistrictC+

Safford runs its own schools through grade 12 (Safford Unified District). From grade PK, students attend the Solomon Elementary District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Safford

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

Safford Unified DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,874 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 20.0 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$10,752AZ $12,318 · FY2024
B
Solomon Elementary DistrictGrades PK–8 · 1 schools · 179 students, up 12% since 2020–21 · 14.9 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$12,274AZ $12,318 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Safford Unified District39%
State average 40.4% · 1389 students tested
Math · PK–12, Safford Unified District36%
State average 34.8% · 1406 students tested
Reading · PK–8, Solomon Elementary District32%
State average 40.4% · 113 students tested
Math · PK–8, Solomon Elementary District32%
State average 34.8% · 114 students tested

Safford vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
SaffordBSafford Unified District PK–12 · Solomon Elementary District PK–8
ThatcherA−Thatcher Unified District

Every school in Safford

7 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 Saffordby address
Ruth Powell Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
B+
575 students21:1Rate it →
Dorothy Stinson School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
B+
539 students19:1Rate it →
Lafe Nelson School
Elementary · Grades K–6
B+
471 students22:1Rate it →
Safford Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
B
375 students20:1Rate it →
Safford High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
828 students19:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Mt Graham High School
High · Grades 9–12
D
Alternative Education
86 students17:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Triumphant Learning Center
Elementary · Grades K–8
B−
Charter
101 students8:1Rate it →

Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (GIFT - Safford High School, GIFT - Mt. Graham High School and Henry Dunkerson Pathways Academy).

Questions about Safford’s schools

Are Safford’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Arizona: the public schools Safford children attend outscore 61% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #59 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 73%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Safford in?

Two districts: Safford Unified District runs grades PK–12, and Solomon Elementary District runs grades PK–8.

Where do Safford kids go to high school?

Safford High School, with 828 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Safford’s graduation rate?

76% of the class of 2023 in Safford Unified District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.

How much does Safford spend per student?

$10,752 in Safford Unified District and $12,274 in Solomon Elementary District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Safford families are saying about school.

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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.