- Enrollment
- 503
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Payson, AZ
Payson High School
Federal NCES profile for Payson High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 040607000500
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Payson High School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #2 of 3
- public schools in Payson · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.7:1
- students per teacher
- 35.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Payson High School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Payson High School ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Payson, AZ.
School address
District: Payson Unified District (4209) · Arizona
NCES ID 040607000500 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-42 students YoY
Payson High School shrank from 790 students in 2022-23 to 748 in 2023-24 (-5.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 44.7 → 42.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-42 students YoY 040607000500 · Payson, AZ High · MID · TRAD
733 enr · 16.7:1 · 35.9% lunch · RII 22
Nearest enrollment peer: Julia Randall Elementary School (503 students)
Payson High School shrank from 790 students in 2022-23 to 748 in 2023-24 (-5.3%). Teacher FTE lost 44.7 → 42.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Payson High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Payson High School
733 students
- Julia Randall
Julia Randall Elementary School
503 students
- Rim Country Mi
Rim Country Middle School
478 students
- Payson Element
Payson Elementary School
430 students
What this shows Payson High School reports 733 students on the CCD universe file.
How Payson High School compares
Payson High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.7:1 | ▼ 2% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.9% | ▼ 26% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 733 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.7:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
733
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.7:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 52% in Arizona - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
69.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,456
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 367 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
91
in-school suspensions + 59 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 64.9%
Hispanic or Latino 27.1%
Two or More 4.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.0%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 64.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.3, Payson High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP program Not offered
District finance for Payson Unified District (4209) reports $11,456 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Payson High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Randall Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rim Country Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Payson Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Payson High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 478
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 430
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~733 students)
Frequently asked questions about Payson High School
How many students attend Payson High School?
Payson High School has 733 students enrolled. It is a high school in Payson, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 790 (2022-23) → 748 (2023-24), down 42.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Payson High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Payson High School is 16.7:1, which is 2% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Payson High School?
35.9% of students at Payson High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Payson High School?
The largest demographic group at Payson High School is White at 64.9% of enrollment, in Payson, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Payson High School?
Payson High School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Payson High School rank among public schools in Payson?
By Resource Investment Index, Payson High School ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Payson, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Payson on the city page.
What other schools are in Payson Unified District (4209)?
Besides Payson High School, Payson Unified District (4209) also operates Julia Randall Elementary School (503 students), Rim Country Middle School (478 students), and Payson Elementary School (430 students). See the Payson Unified District (4209) district page for the complete list.