The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Julia Randall Elementary School
Julia Randall Elementary School serves second through fifth graders in the town of Payson, part of the Payson Unified District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. With an enrollment that is a midsize elementary for a town of this scale, the student body reflects the broader community: a majority of students are white, and roughly three in ten are Hispanic. There is also a noticeable Native American presence and a small share of students who identify with two or more races. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status were not available, so a family relying on those metrics to gauge the school's support profile would need to ask the school directly.
Payson sits in the mountains of northern Gila County, surrounded by the Tonto National Forest. It is a town shaped by tourism, retirement, and outdoor recreation — a place where seasonal festivals, a historic rodeo, parks, and hiking trails define much of the community life. The setting is a draw for families who want a small-town mountain environment rather than a sprawling suburban or urban one. The local housing market, based on the most recent data, is priced above the national median, reflecting the desirability of the area and its limited inventory.
The district context matters deeply here. In late 2024, a budget override measure that would have provided additional annual funding for teacher salaries, programs, and smaller class sizes failed at the ballot box. In response, the school board voted in early 2025 to move to a four-day school week starting in the 2025-2026 year. The district also eliminated a dozen teaching positions and cut elementary art and music programs for the upcoming year, while increasing class sizes at multiple grade levels. These are not distant policy decisions; they directly shape the daily experience at Julia Randall Elementary. A four-day week means a different family schedule and less instructional time. The loss of art and music reduces the breadth of enrichment that many families expect at the elementary level.
Academically, the picture is mixed in a way that merits close attention. On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science fell in a range that is modest relative to state expectations. In math, roughly three in ten students met the proficiency bar at each tested grade. In English language arts, the fourth grade showed a somewhat higher rate, but third and fifth grades were again around three in ten. Fifth-grade science proficiency was lower still. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency index placed it above the midpoint among the districts of Gila County, meaning it performs comparatively well in a region where many schools face similar challenges. But the absolute numbers tell a different story: a majority of students at every grade level are not yet meeting the state’s academic benchmarks. A parent considering this school should look into how the school identifies and supports students who are below proficiency, especially given the larger class sizes and reduced staffing that lie ahead.
No graduation rate applies here because the school ends at fifth grade. No multi-year trend data were available beyond a single year, so there is no basis to say whether achievement has been improving or declining.
This school fits a family that values being part of a mountain-town community with strong outdoor recreation and a slower pace. It also fits a family that is comfortable with the district’s recent structural changes — a four-day week, fewer specials like art and music, and larger classes — and wants to engage directly with the school about academic supports. The academic results are not strong in absolute terms, but they are typical for a rural district in this part of the state, and the relative position within Gila County suggests the school is not an outlier on the low end. The missing data on free or reduced-price lunch, special education, and English learner populations means a thorough conversation with the school is advisable for any family whose child may need targeted services.
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