Total enrollment
6,927
+199 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Graham County
Arizona · Public K-12
Graham County in Arizona is home to 32 public K-12 schools, serving roughly 6,927 students between them, broken out as 13 elementary, 3 middle, and 14 high. Safford Unified District (4218) is the largest district by enrollment.
4-year change in Graham County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
25
-3 (-11%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Graham County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Arizona | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 6,927 | #13 of 15 | #1,066 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 25 | #13 of 15 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.8:1 | #9 of 15 | #2,248 of 2,655 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 60.3% | #7 of 15 | #545 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Graham County school rankings
Residents
39,232
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
32
10 districts
Enrollment
6,927
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$67,325
Above Arizona avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
13
3,867 students
Middle
3
828 students
High
14
2,136 students
Combined / other
2
96 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Safford Unified District (4218)
2,874 students · 10 districts in Graham County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Graham County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
14.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.7%
civilian labor
Median age
35
25.8% under 18
Test scores in Graham County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Arizona state average: 45.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Thatcher Middle School· 50.0%
- Thatcher Elementary School· 49.0%
- Ruth Powell Elementary School· 48.0%
- Thatcher High School· 48.0%
- Safford Middle School· 40.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Pima Elementary School· 30.0%
- Pima Junior High School· 35.0%
- Dorothy Stinson School· 36.0%
- Solomon Elementary School· 36.0%
- Lafe Nelson School· 38.0%
Cities in Graham County
About Graham County
Graham County is a rural-scale Arizona county of about 39,232 residents, home to 32 public schools and roughly 6,927 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $67,325, roughly 15% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 14%. That income level is 5% meaningfully above the Arizona median.
For a sense of the school types, Graham County covers 13 elementary schools (3,867 students), 3 middle schools (828), 14 high schools (2,136), and 2 combined or other schools.
Safford Unified District (4218) dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,874 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 6,927 students, expanded 3% from the 6,728 reported in SY 2020-21. Graham County now counts 25 public schools, down from 28 in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for Graham County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data