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Payson Junior High

Public Grades 7-9

187^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 217 Utah Middle Schools

Better than 14% of Utah middle schools

Summary

Payson Junior High is a public school in Payson, Utah, serving 1,143 students in grades 7–9 as part of Nebo District.

The school’s academic results are a significant concern for families to investigate. Payson ranked 187th out of 217 Utah middle schools for 2025–2026, placing it at the 14th percentile statewide and earning a one-star rating. It trailed both the district and Utah in all six reported subject results. The greatest weakness was eighth-grade mathematics, where 16.1% of students were proficient, compared with 30.1% in the district and 39.3% statewide. Eighth-grade science was also low at 34.9%. Ninth-grade results were somewhat stronger, including 28.5% proficiency in mathematics and 41.0% in science, but still remained below district and state levels. ELA performance has improved from recent lows but continues to lag comparison schools.

Attendance is another important issue: 37.3% of students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, compared with 26.6% in the district and 23.8% statewide. That rate has stayed near 37% for three consecutive years. Payson’s results are also weaker than those of several nearby schools, including Mapleton Junior High, Spring Canyon Middle, and Maple Grove Middle, which rank from the 62nd to 70th percentile statewide. Even nearby Mt. Nebo Middle ranks higher, at the 27th percentile. Overall, the clearest priorities appear to be improving attendance and providing intensive support in eighth-grade mathematics and science.

1,143

Students ?

23.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,680

Per pupil spending ?

29.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1025 S Highway 198
Payson, UT 84651

(801) 465-6015

District: Nebo District

Students who attend Payson Junior High usually attend:

High:

Payson High

Feeder schools for Payson Junior High:

Elementary:	Apple Valley School
	Goshen School
	Orchard Hills School
	Park View School
	More...
	Santaquin School
	Spring Lake School
	Wilson School

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.6%

Hispanic:

20.7%

Two or more races:

3.1%

See top rated Utah middle schools

Compare Payson Junior High to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 44th percentile in 2015 → 14th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Utah average (31% vs 45% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (14th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (37% vs 24% Utah)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school31%

District avg41%

Utah avg45%

187^th of 217

Utah public middle schools ?

Bottom 14%▼ down 27 pts since 2016

From bottom 41% (2016) to bottom 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Utah Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5Middle 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	13.0	187 of 217	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.7	189 of 210	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.2	167 of 216	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.8	172 of 209	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.6	188 of 213	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.9	172 of 222	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.2	108 of 172	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	36.4	147 of 206	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	46.2	123 of 209	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	45.6	117 of 210	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	45.8	113 of 185	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	52.3	153 of 243	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	55.8	141 of 238	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	43.4	163 of 222	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	50.0	123 of 201	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	55.0	103 of 205	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	50.3	119 of 200	40.5%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2026	24.2	50 of 56	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2026	13.9	101 of 106	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.9	105 of 106	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	25.7	80 of 99	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.9	83 of 100	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2026	27.5	106 of 139	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.7	122 of 141	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.9	82 of 138	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.7	102 of 133	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2026	7.0	182 of 186	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.3	174 of 183	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.5	165 of 191	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.7	175 of 191	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)24th percentile+10 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)11th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)5th percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)2nd percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Utah (2025-2026) ?

Science35%-16 vs state

English Language Arts32%-13 vs state

Mathematics16%-23 vs state

★

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Schools Near Payson Junior 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 Mathematics 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Science 9th Grade	RISE English Language Arts 6th Grade	RISE English Language Arts 7th Grade	RISE English Language Arts 8th Grade	RISE Mathematics 6th Grade	RISE Mathematics 7th Grade	RISE Mathematics 8th Grade	RISE Science 6th 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 Junior High	Public	7-9	1025 S Highway 198	Payson	84651	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 465-6015	1,143	48	23.6	29.8%	864 (75.6%)	1 (0.1%)	237 (20.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	36 (3.1%)	13	187^th of 217 public middle schools	13.8%					(n/a)	32.8	28.5	41.0			32.3			16.1			34.9	$7,680	$523	$7,157
Mt. Nebo Middle	Public	6-7	851 W. 450 South	Payson	84651	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 465-6040	1,034	49	20.9	33.7%	805 (77.9%)	5 (0.5%)	177 (17.1%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	9 (0.9%)	35 (3.4%)	30.7	158^th of 217 public middle schools	27.2%		30.6	128^th of 182 public middle schools	29.7%	30				33.9	34.5		20.8	38.3		56.4	43.8
Salem Junior High	Public	7-9	598 North Main	Salem	84653	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 423-6558	950	42	22.8	22.6%	764 (80.4%)	8 (0.8%)	139 (14.6%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	33 (3.5%)	50.1	103^rd of 217 public middle schools	52.5%					(n/a)	35.3	28.7	40.2			48.5			28.8			56.3	$7,291	$570	$6,721
Valley View Middle	Public	6-7	1044 E 340 S	Salem	84653	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 609-2795	963	42	23.1	24.0%	803 (83.4%)	3 (0.3%)	117 (12.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.5%)	5 (0.5%)	30 (3.1%)	54	95^th of 217 public middle schools	56.2%		61.9	70^th of 182 public middle schools	61.5%	25				44.6	43.4		28.0	55.3		67.2	47.7
Spanish Fork Junior High	Public	7-9	600 S 820 E	Spanish Fork	84660	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 798-4075	1,070	51	21.1	23.7%	846 (79.1%)	10 (0.9%)	164 (15.3%)	4 (0.4%)	3 (0.3%)	12 (1.1%)	31 (2.9%)	23.4	171^st of 217 public middle schools	21.2%					(n/a)	44.6	40.6	44.1			33.9			27.2			41.5	$7,339	$509	$6,830
Diamond Fork Middle	Public	6-8	50 N 900 East	Spanish Fork	84660	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 798-4052	1,074	49	22.1	29.4%	844 (78.6%)	10 (0.9%)	176 (16.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.6%)	9 (0.8%)	29 (2.7%)	33.9	147^th of 217 public middle schools	32.3%		40.1	111^th of 182 public middle schools	39.0%	36				34.3	35.5		33.5	41.8		53.3	40.7
Maple Grove Middle	Public	6-8	1578 W 400 South	Mapleton	84664	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 609-2395	1,195	51	23.5	13.1%	994 (83.2%)	8 (0.7%)	124 (10.4%)	5 (0.4%)	4 (0.3%)	4 (0.3%)	56 (4.7%)	65.9	65^th of 217 public middle schools	70.0%		70.9	50^th of 182 public middle schools	72.5%	15				49.8	49.4		36.6	53.7		74.3	52.3
Spring Canyon Middle	Public	6-8	599 W 700 South	Springville	84663	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 609-2400	1,038	48	21.7	28.4%	720 (69.4%)	6 (0.6%)	242 (23.3%)	6 (0.6%)	6 (0.6%)	12 (1.2%)	46 (4.4%)	59.5	82^nd of 217 public middle schools	62.2%		49.9	95^th of 182 public middle schools	47.8%	13				45.0	52.1		30.1	52.5		59.5	59.4
Mapleton Junior High	Public	7-9	362 E 1200 N	Mapleton	84664	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 489-2892	1,312	53	24.8	14.4%	1,081 (82.4%)	6 (0.5%)	148 (11.3%)	2 (0.2%)	4 (0.3%)	8 (0.6%)	62 (4.7%)	63.3	71^st of 217 public middle schools	67.3%					(n/a)	50.3	36.4	45.0			45.1			44.0			62.6	$7,265	$571	$6,694
Springville Junior High	Public	7-9	189 S 1470 East	Springville	84663	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 489-2880	1,086	48	22.7	28.5%	760 (70.0%)	6 (0.6%)	246 (22.7%)	4 (0.4%)	5 (0.5%)	15 (1.4%)	50 (4.6%)	39.2	131^st of 217 public middle schools	39.6%					(n/a)	44.1	44.7	55.9			40.7			31.3			50.5	$7,952	$556	$7,397

Frequently Asked Questions about Payson Junior High

What district is Payson Junior High in?

Nebo District

How many students attend Payson Junior High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,143 students attended Payson Junior High.

Is Payson Junior High a good school?

Payson Junior High ranks in the bottom 13.8% of Utah middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of Payson Junior High?

Students at Payson Junior High are 76% White, 21% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Payson Junior High attend?

Students who attend Payson Junior High usually go on to attend Payson High

Rate Payson Junior High!

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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.