Public schools in Safford, AZ
9 open public schools with an address in Safford, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,975
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
19.3:1
Arizona median 16.7:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Safford public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Safford, AZ: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,975 students, an average of 331 per school. The largest campus is Safford High School (828 students), and the largest elementary school is Ruth Powell Elementary School (575).
Safford Unified District (4218) operates the most schools here (6), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 19.3:1, higher than 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 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 0 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Safford
Elementary schools in Safford
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorothy Stinson School Safford Unified District (4218) | PK–06 | 539 | 19.3:1 | |
| Lafe Nelson School Safford Unified District (4218) | KG–06 | 471 | 22.4:1 | |
| Ruth Powell Elementary School Safford Unified District (4218) | PK–06 | 575 | 20.5:1 | |
| Triumphant Learning Center Triumphant Learning Center (4225) · Charter | KG–08 | 101 | 8.4:1 |
Middle schools in Safford
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safford Middle School Safford Unified District (4218) | 07–08 | 375 | 20.4:1 |
High schools in Safford
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIFT - Mt. Graham High School Gila Institute for Technology (79387) · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| GIFT - Safford High School Gila Institute for Technology (79387) · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Mt Graham High School Safford Unified District (4218) · Alternative School | 09–12 | 86 | 17.2:1 | |
| Safford High School Safford Unified District (4218) | 09–12 | 828 | 19.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White39.3%
- Hispanic56.2%
- Black1.1%
- Asian0.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native1.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial1.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 7 Safford schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,975 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Safford
How many public schools are in Safford, AZ?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Safford: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high. Together they reported 2,975 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Safford?
Schools with an address in Safford belong to 3 education agencies, led by Safford Unified District (4218) (6 schools), Gila Institute for Technology (79387) (2 schools), Triumphant Learning Center (4225) (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Safford?
Safford High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Safford, with 828 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Safford?
Yes. 1 of the 9 public schools in Safford are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Triumphant Learning Center. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Safford schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Safford public schools is 19.3:1, higher than 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 Safford 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