Public schools in Payson, AZ
8 open public schools with an address in Payson, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
8
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,144
7 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.2:1
Arizona median 16.7:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Payson public schools
The federal directory lists 8 public schools in Payson, AZ: 2 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 7 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,144 students, an average of 306 per school. The largest campus is Payson High School (733 students), and the largest elementary school is Julia Randall Elementary School (503).
Payson Unified District (4209) operates the most schools here (6), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 16.2:1, similar to the statewide school median of 16.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
School districts and agencies serving Payson
Elementary schools in Payson
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Randall Elementary School Payson Unified District (4209) | 02–05 | 503 | 16:1 | |
| Payson Elementary School Payson Unified District (4209) | KG–02 | 430 | 14.6:1 |
Middle schools in Payson
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rim Country Middle School Payson Unified District (4209) | 06–08 | 478 | 16.4:1 |
High schools in Payson
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAVIT - Gila Community College Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technolog (78786) · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| NAVIT - Payson High School Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technolog (78786) · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Payson Center for Success - Online Payson Unified District (4209) · Virtual | 07–12 | 0 | — | |
| Payson High School Payson Unified District (4209) | 09–12 | 733 | 17.4:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Payson
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lil' Longhorns Preschool - Westerly Campus Payson Unified District (4209) | PK–PK | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White63.5%
- Hispanic28%
- Black0.7%
- Asian0.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native2.9%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial4.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 4 Payson schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,144 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Payson
How many public schools are in Payson, AZ?
The current NCES directory lists 8 open public schools with a location address in Payson: 2 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,144 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Payson?
Schools with an address in Payson belong to 2 education agencies, led by Payson Unified District (4209) (6 schools), Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technolog (78786) (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Payson?
Payson High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Payson, with 733 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Payson?
No school with an address in Payson is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Arizona.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Payson schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Payson public schools is 16.2:1, similar to the Arizona school median of 16.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Payson guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Arizona cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Arizona cities