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Ruth Powell Elementary School

Q: Is Ruth Powell Elementary School a good school?

Ruth Powell Elementary School ranks 449 th of 909 Arizona elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

449^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 909 Arizona Elementary Schools

Better than 51% of Arizona elementary schools

Summary

Ruth Powell Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 523 students in grades PK-6 in Safford, Arizona. The school is part of the Safford Unified District, which is ranked 182 out of 289 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Ruth Powell Elementary generally performs better than the district and state averages on standardized tests, particularly in English Language Arts. For example, in 2024-2025, 46% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in ELA compared to 37% for the district and 36% statewide. The school also has a strong special education program, ranking 229 out of 820 Arizona elementary schools in 2022-2023 with a 4-star rating. Additionally, the school's English Language Learner students are exceptionally high-performing, ranking 15 out of 975 Arizona elementary schools in 2020-2021 with a 5-star rating.

However, the school's overall performance has fluctuated significantly over the past 10 years, ranging from a statewide ranking of 313 to 581. This suggests the school's performance may be inconsistent or sensitive to changes in the student population or other factors. Comparing Ruth Powell Elementary to nearby options, such as the high-performing Discovery Plus Academy, suggests that additional resources and targeted interventions could help improve outcomes for all students at Ruth Powell Elementary.

575

Students ?

20.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$4,803

Per pupil spending ?

47.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1041 S 14th Ave
Safford, AZ 85546-3459

(928) 348-7030

District: Safford Unified District

Students who attend Ruth Powell Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Safford Middle School
High:	Safford High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

55.5%

White:

40.2%

American Indian:

1.7%

See top rated Arizona elementary schools

Compare Ruth Powell Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 58th percentile in 2015 → 51st in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Arizona median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school39%

District avg36%

Arizona avg38%

449^th of 909

Arizona public elementary schools ?

Top 49%▼ down 7 pts since 2015

From top 42% (2015) to top 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arizona Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Elementary Schools in the Safford Unified District

182^nd of 289Safford Unified District among Arizona districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	43.2	449 of 909	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	36.4	510 of 912	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.4	581 of 1245	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.5	519 of 1000	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.8	397 of 1226	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.5	426 of 1039	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.1	313 of 1109	71.8%	★★★★☆
2017	67.2	350 of 1106	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	65.4	351 of 1079	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	52.0	404 of 955	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	61.3	423 of 1079	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	68.5	354 of 1158	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	57.0	486 of 1141	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	61.1	410 of 1075	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	65.4	382 of 1090	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	69.3	341 of 1062	67.9%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	70.1	15 of 975	98.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	38.5	341 of 589	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.1	403 of 602	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.8	480 of 1219	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.6	461 of 824	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	71.5	315 of 1219	74.2%	★★★★☆
2019	57.6	343 of 862	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	73.8	266 of 1023	74.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	45.8	244 of 496	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	27.0	340 of 486	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.5	813 of 1170	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.3	433 of 716	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	58.8	401 of 1198	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.1	317 of 709	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.6	237 of 911	74.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	58.3	202 of 549	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.4	283 of 556	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.6	711 of 1116	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.0	356 of 618	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	76.9	130 of 820	84.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	37.9	364 of 626	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.0	397 of 628	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.6	713 of 1216	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.5	541 of 830	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.4	506 of 1220	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.0	438 of 850	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	70.6	301 of 1032	70.8%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	54.7	393 of 1027	61.7%	★★★☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	46.9	229 of 654	65.0%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	60.0	229 of 820	72.1%	★★★★☆
2022	43.5	106 of 145	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	62.3	241 of 1201	79.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	33.7	338 of 465	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.0	390 of 486	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	54.1	445 of 1024	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.9	464 of 800	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	66.7	348 of 1161	70.0%	★★★★☆
2019	38.8	389 of 595	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	69.6	208 of 720	71.1%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2021)98th percentile+31 vs school

Special Education (2023)72nd percentile+19 vs school

Native American (2021)65th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)63rd percentile+13 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)62nd percentile-6 vs school

Hispanic (2025)51st percentile~ school

Female (2025)42nd percentile-8 vs school

Male (2025)42nd percentile-9 vs school

White (2025)27th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts48%+8 vs state

Mathematics34%-4 vs state

Science30%-4 vs state

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Schools Near Ruth Powell Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				AASA English Language Arts (2025)				AASA Mathematics (2025)				AzSCI Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	AASA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	AASA English Language Arts 4th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 5th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 6th Grade	AASA Mathematics 3rd Grade	AASA Mathematics 4th Grade	AASA Mathematics 5th Grade	AASA Mathematics 6th Grade	AzSCI Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Ruth Powell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1041 S 14th Ave	Safford	85546	Graham County	Safford Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(928) 348-7030	575	28	20.5		231 (40.2%)	5 (0.9%)	319 (55.5%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.6%)	43.2	449^th of 909 public elementary schools	50.6%		36.4	510^th of 912 public elementary schools	44.1%	61	46.0	55.0	40.0	50.0	44.0	35.0	27.0	28.0	30.0	$4,803	$321	$08	$650	$4,301	$173	$4,474
Lafe Nelson School	Public	K-6	1100 S 10th Ave	Safford	85546	Graham County	Safford Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(928) 348-7020	471	21	22.4		175 (37.2%)	5 (1.1%)	273 (58.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.7%)	37.4	487^th of 909 public elementary schools	46.4%		26.6	615^th of 912 public elementary schools	32.6%	128	35.0	41.0	32.0	46.0	42.0	38.0	31.0	36.0	31.0	$4,681	$236	$13	$486	$4,138	$294	$4,431
Dorothy Stinson School	Public	PK, KG-6	2013 S 8th Ave	Safford	85546	Graham County	Safford Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(928) 348-7010	539	28	19.2		186 (34.5%)	7 (1.3%)	324 (60.1%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (2.8%)	33.7	530^th of 909 public elementary schools	41.7%		38.2	491^st of 912 public elementary schools	46.2%	39	32.0	48.0	24.0	41.0	52.0	35.0	16.0	34.0	25.0	$4,418	$211	$06	$428	$4,021	$180	$4,201
Triumphant Learning Center	Public, Charter	K-8	201 E Main St	Safford	85546	Graham County	Triumphant Learning Center	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(928) 348-8422	101	12	8.4		62 (61.4%)	2 (2.0%)	36 (35.6%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)											$00			$00
Thatcher Elementary School	Public	3-6	1350 4th Avenue	Thatcher	85552	Graham County	Thatcher Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(928) 348-7250	549	22	25.5		363 (66.1%)	1 (0.2%)	159 (29.0%)	2 (0.4%)	11 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.4%)	51.3	378^th of 909 public elementary schools	58.4%		54.7	370^th of 912 public elementary schools	59.4%	8	44.0	66.0	33.0	53.0	46.0	60.0	39.0	27.0	28.0	$4,637	$178	$02	$358	$3,771	$687	$4,457
Jack Daley Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	3615 Second St.	Thatcher	85552	Graham County	Thatcher Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(928) 348-7240	418	25	16.8		281 (67.2%)	1 (0.2%)	118 (28.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.6%)								(n/a)										$6,954	$569	$13	$1,152	$5,841	$530	$6,371
Solomon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2250 South Stevens Ave.	Solomon	85551	Graham County	Solomon Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(928) 428-0477	179	12	14.9		74 (41.3%)	0 (0.0%)	105 (58.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	55.0				54.0						$00			$00
Pima Elementary School	Public	K-6	131 S. Main Street	Pima	85543	Graham County	Pima Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(928) 387-8051	500	30	16.4		307 (61.4%)	4 (0.8%)	177 (35.4%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	22.8	659^th of 909 public elementary schools	27.5%		29.9	577^th of 912 public elementary schools	36.7%	82	22.0	43.0	24.0	33.0	31.0	39.0	18.0	17.0	28.0	$5,875	$388	$93	$869	$5,308	$86	$5,393
Discovery Plus Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	852 W 250 N	Pima	85543	Graham County	Discovery Plus Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(928) 485-2498	119	8	14.8		102 (85.7%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (12.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.7%)	88.5	80^th of 909 public elementary schools	91.2%		86.9	102^nd of 912 public elementary schools	88.8%	22	85.0	84.0	65.0		55.0		65.0				$00			$00
Fort Thomas Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	15560 West Elementary School R	Fort Thomas	85536	Graham County	Fort Thomas Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(928) 485-2433	207	21	9.8		9 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	185 (89.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.9%)								(n/a)					34.0	35.0					$00			$00

Frequently Asked Questions about Ruth Powell Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Ruth Powell Elementary School?

Students at Ruth Powell Elementary School are 55% Hispanic, 40% White, 2% American Indian, 2% Two or more races.

Is Ruth Powell Elementary School a good school?

Ruth Powell Elementary School ranks 449^th of 909 Arizona elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Ruth Powell Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Ruth Powell Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Safford Middle School
High : Safford High School

How many students attend Ruth Powell Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 575 students attended Ruth Powell Elementary School.

What district is Ruth Powell Elementary School in?

Safford Unified District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arizona Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.