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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Gila County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 33 public schools serving 6,645 students in Gila County, AZ (there are 3 private schools, serving 464 private students). 94% of all K-12 students in Gila County, AZ are educated in public schools (compared to the AZ state average of 94%).
The top-ranked public schools in Gila County, AZ are Destiny School, Young Elementary School and San Carlos Alternative High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Gila County, AZ public schools have an average math proficiency score of 15% (versus the Arizona public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 24% (versus the 41% statewide average). Schools in Gila County have an average ranking of 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Arizona public schools.
Minority enrollment is 65% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is less than the Arizona public school average of 67% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Gila County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Destiny School
Charter School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
798 E Prickly Pear Dr
Globe, AZ 85501
(928) 425-0925
Gr: K-8 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #22.
Young Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Hwy 288 Baker Ranch Rd
Young, AZ 85554
(928) 462-3244
Gr: PK-8 | 40 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #33.
San Carlos Alternative High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
27010 E Highway 70
San Carlos, AZ 85550
(928) 475-2315
Gr: K-12 | 37 students
Rank: #44.
Pine Strawberry Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3868 N Pine Creek Dr
Pine, AZ 85544
(928) 476-3283
Gr: PK-8 | 97 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #55.
Young High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Hwy 288 Baker Ranch Rd
Young, AZ 85554
(928) 462-3244
Gr: 9-12 | 6 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1
Rank: #66.
Biyaagozhoo Center
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Indian Rte. 6 Mp 10.5
Globe, AZ 85502
(928) 475-4060
Gr: 3-12 | 10 students
Rank: #77.
Payson High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
301 S Mclane Rd
Payson, AZ 85547
(928) 472-5788
Gr: 9-12 | 733 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #88.
Tonto Basin Elementary School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
445 S. Old Hwy 188
Tonto Basin, AZ 85553
(928) 479-2277
Gr: PK-8 | 79 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #99.
Julia Randall Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
902 W Main St
Payson, AZ 85547
(928) 468-2600
Gr: 2-5 | 503 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1010.
Tiger Knowledge Online (Tko)
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
460 N Willow St
Globe, AZ 85501
(928) 402-6000
Gr: K-12 | 28 students Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1111.
Rim Country Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
304 S Meadow St
Payson, AZ 85547
(928) 472-3062
Gr: 6-8 | 478 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1212.
Globe High School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
437 S High Street
Globe, AZ 85501
(928) 402-6100
Gr: 9-12 | 532 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1313.
Hayden High School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
824 N. Thorne Ave
Winkelman, AZ 85192
(520) 356-7876
Gr: 9-12 | 93 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1414.
Liberty High School
Alternative School
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 E Cedar St
Globe, AZ 85501
(928) 402-8024
Gr: 7-12 | 76 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #1515.
Payson Center For Success - Online
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19% )
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
902 W Main St
Payson, AZ 85547
(928) 472-5891
Gr: 7-12
Rank: #1616.
Miami Virtual Program
(Math: 8% | Reading: 28% )
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
4739 E Ragus Rd
Miami, AZ 85539
(928) 425-3271
Gr: K-12
Rank: #1717.
Copper Rim Elementary School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1600 Mesquite
Globe, AZ 85501
(928) 402-5800
Gr: PK-5 | 694 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1818.
Cvit - Miami High School
Vocational School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 20-29% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4635 E. Ragus Rd.
Miami, AZ 85539
(928) 425-3085
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #1919.
High Desert Middle School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4000 High Desert
Globe, AZ 85501
(928) 402-5900
Gr: 6-8 | 390 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2020.
Dr. Charles A. Bejarano Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4635 B Ragus Road
Miami, AZ 85539
(928) 425-3271
Gr: PK-3 | 219 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #2121.
Cvit - Hayden High School
Vocational School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
824 Thorne Ave
Winkelman, AZ 85192
(520) 356-7876
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #2222.
Leonor Hambly K-8
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
824 Thorne Ave.
Winkelman, AZ 85192
(520) 356-7876
Gr: PK-8 | 213 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #2323.
Lee Kornegay Intermediate School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 16%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4635 E. Ragus Rd.
Miami, AZ 85539
(928) 425-3271
Gr: 3-6 | 282 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #2424.
Cvit - Globe High School
Vocational School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
437 S High St
Globe, AZ 85501
(928) 402-6100
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #2525.
Cvit - San Carlos High School
Vocational School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: ≤10% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
27010 E Highway 70
San Carlos, AZ 85550
(928) 475-2315
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #2626.
Miami Junior Senior High School
(Math: 2% | Reading: 16%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4639 E. Ragus Road
Miami, AZ 85539
(928) 425-3271
Gr: 6-12 | 428 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #2727.
San Carlos High School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
27010 E Highway 70
San Carlos, AZ 85550
(928) 475-2378
Gr: 6-12 | 433 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
Rank: #2828.
Rice Elementary School
(Math: 6% | Reading: 3%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
San Carlos Avenue
San Carlos, AZ 85550
(928) 475-4837
Gr: PK-6 | 673 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
Rank: #2929.
San Carlos Middle School
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 6%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
100 San Carlos Ave
San Carlos, AZ 85550
(928) 475-2315
Gr: 6-8 | 295 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
Rank: n/an/a
Cvit - Central Campus Cac Aravaipa
Vocational School
80440 E Aravaipa Rd
Winkelman, AZ 85192
(520) 357-2800
Gr: 10-12
Rank: n/an/a
M.u.s.d. #40 - Little Vandal Preschool
4739 E Ragus Rd
Miami, AZ 85539
(928) 425-3271
Gr: PK
Rank: n/an/a
Payson Elementary School
500 East Rancho Road
Payson, AZ 85547
(928) 472-5801
Gr: K-2 | 430 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: n/an/a
Shil Gozhoo Academy
100 San Carlos Ave
San Carlos, AZ 85550
(928) 475-2315
Gr: K-12

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Gila County, AZ?
The top-ranked public schools in Gila County, AZ include Destiny School, Young Elementary School and San Carlos Alternative High School.
How many public schools are located in Gila County?
32 public schools are located in Gila County.
What percentage of students in Gila County go to public school?
94% of all K-12 students in Gila County are educated in public schools (compared to the AZ state average of 94%).
What is the racial composition of students in Gila County?
Gila County public schools minority enrollment is 65% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is less than the Arizona public schools average of 67% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Gila County are often viewed compared to one another?

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