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Payson High

Q: Is Payson High a good school?

Payson High ranks in the bottom 15.8% of Utah high schools.

Q: How many students attend Payson High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,648 students attended Payson High.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Payson High?

Students at Payson High are 78% White, 19% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Q: What schools feed into Payson High?

Payson High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Apple Valley School Elementary : Goshen School Elementary : Orchard Hills School Elementary : Park View School Elementary : Santaquin School Elementary : Spring Lake School Elementary : Wilson School Middle : Mt. Nebo Middle Middle : Payson Junior High

Public Grades 6-12

117^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 139 Utah High Schools

Better than 16% of Utah high schools

Summary

Payson High is a public school serving grades 6–12 in Payson, Utah, with 1,648 students in the Nebo District, a suburban Utah County area with several nearby high schools of similar size.

The school’s main challenge is academic performance, particularly in mathematics. Payson is ranked 117th of 139 Utah schools, in the 16th percentile, with a 1-star rating. In 2025–26, 10th-grade proficiency was 42.2% in English language arts, 14.1% in mathematics, and 26.3% in science. Mathematics proficiency was far below nearby Springville High (36.2%), Salem Hills High (36.0%), Maple Mountain High (28.5%), and Spanish Fork High (26.4%). Science results also trailed all four comparison schools. These are ongoing weaknesses rather than a one-year decline, while ELA has been more encouraging but inconsistent: proficiency rose to 49.4% in 2024–25 before falling to 42.2%.

Payson’s strongest results are its graduation and dropout outcomes. The 2024–25 graduation rate was 94.8%, above both the Nebo District rate of 93.5% and Utah’s 89.8%; its 4.2% dropout rate was also below the district and state rates. However, chronic absenteeism reached 34.2%, meaning about one-third of students were chronically absent—higher than the district’s 26.6% and Utah’s 23.8%. The school also serves a somewhat higher share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch than most nearby peers. For families, the central issue is that Payson generally keeps students on track to graduate, but needs stronger, more consistent support in math, science, attendance, and academic readiness.

1,648

Students ?

23.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,484

Per pupil spending ?

26%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1050 S Main
Payson, UT 84651

(801) 465-6025

District: Nebo District

Feeder schools for Payson High:

Elementary:	Apple Valley School
	Goshen School
	Orchard Hills School
	Park View School
	More...
	Santaquin School
	Spring Lake School
	Wilson School
Middle:	Mt. Nebo Middle
	Payson Junior High

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.6%

Hispanic:

19.1%

Two or more races:

1.8%

See top rated Utah high schools

Compare Payson High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 24th percentile in 2024 → 16th in 2026

Strengths

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the Utah average (90%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Utah average (28% vs 39% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (34% vs 24% Utah)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school28%

District avg38%

Utah avg39%

117^th of 139

Utah public high schools ?

Bottom 16%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 10% (2016) to bottom 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Utah High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5High Schools in the Nebo District

49^th of 92Nebo District among Utah 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	Utah percentile	Rating
2026	19.3	117 of 139	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.9	106 of 138	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.2	105 of 138	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.9	109 of 139	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.5	109 of 131	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.5	115 of 129	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	18.7	118 of 136	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.9	98 of 123	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	12.2	116 of 125	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	11.7	116 of 129	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	20.3	108 of 131	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	18.2	100 of 120	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	36.4	119 of 167	28.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	39.7	110 of 166	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	35.1	114 of 164	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	35.7	108 of 153	29.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	32.6	111 of 148	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	42.6	95 of 142	33.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2026	17.9	66 of 78	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.2	59 of 69	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	59.0	22 of 72	69.4%	★★★★☆
2023	23.8	53 of 66	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	41.0	37 of 62	40.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2026	27.3	71 of 97	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	41.5	52 of 89	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.6	58 of 93	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	72.2	23 of 93	75.3%	★★★★☆
2022	54.3	35 of 84	58.3%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2025	11.4	6 of 6	0.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.9	15 of 20	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2026	16.2	108 of 122	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.1	95 of 118	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.9	105 of 123	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.5	97 of 122	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.8	112 of 123	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)27th percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2026)15th percentile~ school

White (2026)11th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2025)<1st percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Utah (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts42%-6 vs state

Science26%-13 vs state

Mathematics14%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Payson High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts (2026)		Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics (2026)		Utah Aspire Plus Science (2026)		RISE English Language Arts (2026)		RISE Mathematics (2026)		RISE Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts 10th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics 10th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Science 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Science 10th Grade	RISE English Language Arts 7th Grade	RISE English Language Arts 8th Grade	RISE Mathematics 7th Grade	RISE Mathematics 8th Grade	RISE Science 7th Grade	RISE Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Payson High	Public	6-12	1050 S Main	Payson	84651	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 465-6025	1,648	70	23.6	26.0%	1,279 (77.6%)	10 (0.6%)	315 (19.1%)	3 (0.2%)	4 (0.2%)	6 (0.4%)	30 (1.8%)	19.3	117^th of 139 public high schools	15.8%		26.9	106^th of 138 public high schools	23.2%	11		42.2		14.1		26.3							$8,484	$386	$8,098
Salem Hills High	Public	9-12	150 N Skyhawk Blvd	Salem	84653	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 423-3200	1,593	65	24.6	16.7%	1,319 (82.8%)	10 (0.6%)	200 (12.6%)	9 (0.6%)	3 (0.2%)	4 (0.3%)	48 (3.0%)	54.4	56^th of 139 public high schools	59.7%		55.8	54^th of 138 public high schools	60.9%	2		47.3		36.0		40.8							$8,456	$522	$7,934
Spanish Fork High	Public	6-12	158 N 630 West	Spanish Fork	84660	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 798-4060	1,640	69	23.6	19.8%	1,296 (79.0%)	14 (0.9%)	250 (15.2%)	2 (0.1%)	4 (0.2%)	19 (1.2%)	55 (3.4%)	49.9	62^nd of 139 public high schools	55.4%		31.8	98^th of 138 public high schools	29.0%	36		47.5		26.4		45.4							$8,293	$382	$7,910
Maple Mountain High	Public	7-12	51 N Spanish Fork Pkwy	Spanish Fork	84660	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 794-6740	1,902	74	25.7	11.6%	1,552 (81.6%)	7 (0.4%)	245 (12.9%)	7 (0.4%)	6 (0.3%)	9 (0.5%)	76 (4.0%)	45.4	74^th of 139 public high schools	46.8%		44	80^th of 138 public high schools	42.0%	6		47.5		28.5		38.7							$8,236	$502	$7,734
Merit College Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	7-12	1440 W Center Street	Springville	84663	Utah County	Merit College Preparatory Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(801) 491-7600	456	33	13.9	32.0%	325 (71.3%)	2 (0.4%)	104 (22.8%)	7 (1.5%)	2 (0.4%)	5 (1.1%)	11 (2.4%)	64.5	38^th of 139 public high schools	72.7%		34.1	95^th of 138 public high schools	31.2%	57	53.8	45.5	44.8	39.3	52.5	49.1	40.5	34.8	59.5	30–49%	47.9	45.6	$7,734	$551	$7,183
Springville High	Public	6-12	1205 E 900 S	Springville	84663	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 489-2870	1,665	74	22.6	22.9%	1,201 (72.1%)	12 (0.7%)	338 (20.3%)	9 (0.5%)	11 (0.7%)	16 (1.0%)	78 (4.7%)	56.3	50^th of 139 public high schools	64.0%		60.6	41^st of 138 public high schools	70.3%	9		50.9		36.2		39.0							$7,954	$375	$7,579
Independence High	Public	5-12	636 N Independence Ave	Provo	84601	Utah County	Provo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 374-4920	276	20	13.9	54.7%	105 (38.0%)	1 (0.4%)	145 (52.5%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.2%)	9 (3.3%)	9 (3.3%)								(n/a)		< 21%			< 21%	< 21%							$15,106	$779	$14,327
Provo Adult Education	Public	9-12	636 N Independence Ave	Provo	84601	Utah County	Provo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 374-4840	0	0	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Provo High	Public	7-12	1199 North Lakeshore Dr	Provo	84601	Utah County	Provo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 373-6550	2,023	79	25.5	34.9%	1,005 (49.7%)	13 (0.6%)	826 (40.8%)	27 (1.3%)	19 (0.9%)	61 (3.0%)	71 (3.5%)	31.2	99^th of 139 public high schools	28.8%		17.6	118^th of 138 public high schools	14.5%	19	39.6	40.9	27.9	22.4	46.7	35.3							$9,806	$484	$9,322
Utah County Academy of Science	Public, Magnet, Charter	9-12	940 W 800 S	Orem	84058	Utah County	Utah County Academy of Science	Yes	Yes	No	No	(801) 863-2222	510	21	24.3	19.6%	300 (58.8%)	4 (0.8%)	155 (30.4%)	26 (5.1%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	21 (4.1%)	99.8	1^st of 139 public high schools	99.3%		99.8	1^st of 138 public high schools	99.3%		76.6	93.8	78.1	74.8	89.1	81.8							$8,825	$919	$7,906

Frequently Asked Questions about Payson High

What schools feed into Payson High?

Payson High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Apple Valley School
Elementary : Goshen School
Elementary : Orchard Hills School
Elementary : Park View School
Elementary : Santaquin School
Elementary : Spring Lake School
Elementary : Wilson School
Middle : Mt. Nebo Middle
Middle : Payson Junior High

What is the racial makeup of Payson High?

Students at Payson High are 78% White, 19% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Payson High in?

Nebo District

Is Payson High a good school?

Payson High ranks in the bottom 15.8% of Utah high schools.

How many students attend Payson High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,648 students attended Payson High.

Rate Payson High!

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Schools in Payson, UT

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Latest Utah data All new data »

2025–26 RISE & Utah Aspire Plus test scoresSep 8, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesDec 16, 2025

2024–25 attendance dataOct 30, 2025

2024–25 RISE & Utah Aspire Plus test scoresSep 10, 2025

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