Summary:
Schools in ZIP code 84651 serve about 6,049 students across eight schools, from elementary through high school, all within Nebo District in the Payson-area community. The five elementary schools generally perform better than the two middle schools and one high school. Park View School and Spring Lake School are the leading overall choices based on recent rankings, test scores, and attendance. Both rank around the 70th percentile statewide, while Taylor School is near the state midpoint. The district itself ranks 49th of 92 Utah districts in the supplied data.
Park View School has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the area, at 21%, along with particularly strong mathematics and science results. Spring Lake School has the highest elementary ranking and has made one of the largest improvements in recent years, with mathematics and science scores often exceeding state averages. Taylor School shows notable mathematics strength but has higher absenteeism. Barnett School and Wilson School have more uneven grade-level results and higher student-support needs; Wilson is improving in its ranking, while Barnett has the highest reported free/reduced-price lunch participation.
Parents comparing secondary schools should know that attendance and academic performance weaken after elementary school. Mt. Nebo Middle ranks higher than Payson Junior High and has stronger science results, but both middle schools report chronic absenteeism near 38%, with mathematics a particular concern. Payson High has an excellent 94.8% graduation rate and a below-state dropout rate, yet its assessment results—especially mathematics—are weak. Overall, the most important issues across the area are reducing absenteeism, supporting the transition into middle school, and strengthening secondary mathematics. Rankings and test scores are mostly from 2025–2026, while some attendance and financial data come from earlier years.
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