Graham County Schools: Safford High School welcomed most students in 2023-24 school year

Katherine Haley Vice President of Arizona State Board of Education | oakrosegroup.com

By SE Arizona News

Feb 12, 2025

Safford High School had the highest enrollment among Graham County schools, welcoming 846 students during the 2023-24 academic year, according to the Arizona Department of Education.

Of all the students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year, 51.8% of them were boys, and 48.2% were girls.

Data also showed that most of the students were Hispanic or Latino, accounting for 55.2% of the Safford High School's total enrollment.

Among the 21 schools in Graham County, Dorothy Stinson School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 564 students, while Thatcher Elementary School welcomed 537 students and ranked third in the 2023-24 school year.

Safford High School is part of Safford Unified District, which roughly covers schools within Graham County and has a main office in Safford.

In the previous school year, Safford High School also had the highest number of students among Graham County schools.

According to a recent study by ConsumerAffairs, Arizona ranked last in overall education quality in 2024, placing 51st among U.S. states and Washington, D.C. The state ranked 40th in K-12 performance, 43rd in higher education quality, and 45th in school safety.

However, its most striking issue was school funding, where it ranked 50th. Arizona spent only $11,234 per student in the 2023-24 school year, significantly below the national average of $16,722. This funding gap limits resources, teacher salaries, and infrastructure, contributing to the state’s overall low ranking.

Enrollment in Graham Over 4 Years

Enrollment in Graham County Schools During 2023-24 School Year

School name	City	Total School Enrollment
Safford High School	Safford	846
Dorothy Stinson School	Safford	564
Thatcher Elementary School	Thatcher	537
Pima Elementary School	Pima	520
Ruth Powell Elementary School	Safford	517
Thatcher High School	Thatcher	512
Lafe Nelson School	Safford	465
Safford Middle School	Safford	415
Pima High School	Pima	352
Thatcher Middle School	Thatcher	301
Fort Thomas High School	Fort Thomas	259
Fort Thomas Elementary School	Fort Thomas	223
Pima Junior High School	Pima	194
Solomon Elementary School	Solomon	180
Mt. Turnbull Elementary School	Bylas	116
Discovery Plus Academy	Pima	111
Triumphant Learning Center	Safford	97
Mt. Graham High School	Safford	90
Bonita Elementary School	Willcox	82
Mt. Turnbull Academy	Bylas	27
Gila Valley Learning Center	Pima	19