Safford Unified School District

What Safford Unified School District does

Safford Unified School District No. 1 is a fiscally independent, public K-12 school district serving 3,321 students across six schools in Safford, Arizona (Graham County). The district operates three elementary schools (Dorothy Stinson, Lafe Nelson, and Ruth Powell), one middle school (Safford Middle School), and two high schools (Safford High School and Mt. Graham High School), spanning 156 acres of real estate, 33 buildings, and 19 buses covering 832 miles of daily routes. The district is governed by an elected five-member board serving four-year terms and headquartered at 734 W 11th Street, Safford. As a government entity, SUSD is funded primarily by local property taxes, Arizona per-pupil state aid, federal grants (Title I, IDEA, ESSER), and USDA meal reimbursements, with a stated general budget of approximately $14 million.

SUSD's technology backbone is built on Google Workspace for Education with a 1:1 Chromebook program, supplemented by PowerSchool as the Student Information System, Clever for single sign-on, Blocksi for classroom management, and a stack of edtech tools (Code.org, Tynker, Ozobot, Dash, Sphero, Lego WeDo, littleBits) supporting the Making IT REAL STEM program. Student support services include the Capturing Kids' Hearts social-emotional framework, PBIS in elementary schools, Character Strong curriculum, and a Cartwheel telehealth partnership providing therapy and psychiatric services. The district operates a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program delivering universal free breakfast and lunch, special education services from preschool through age 27, McKinney-Vento homeless assistance, and a Susan Lindsey Technology and Training Center (SLTTC) available to community nonprofits.

The district's go-to-market is community-based: open enrollment allows students from outside district boundaries to attend, and outreach is conducted through Facebook, Instagram, the district website, BrightArrow SMS messaging, and school events. Revenue and customer dynamics are fundamentally different from a commercial enterprise: SUSD has a regulatory monopoly on local public education, with 3,321 students and families as its "customers," all enrolled at no cost. Auxiliary revenue streams include Arizona state tax credit donations and adult meal purchases at the summer food program.

Name

Safford Unified School District

Legal name

Safford Unified School District No. 1

Website

https://saffordusd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Safford Unified School District is a public K-12 district serving 3,321 students across six schools in Safford, Arizona, funded by local taxes, state aid, and federal grants with a budget of approximately $14 million.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB), Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC), Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD), Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• School transportation services
• School meal programs
• Special education services
• STEM education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Safford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Local Tax Revenue: As a fiscally independent public school district, primary funding comes from local property taxes levied on district residents.
2. State Funding: State per-pupil funding allocated by the Arizona Department of Education based on student enrollment and attendance.
3. Federal Grants: Federal funding including Title I, Special Education (IDEA), and other categorical grants from the U.S. Department of Education.
4. Federal Meal Reimbursement: Reimbursement from USDA for meals served under the Community Eligibility Provision program.
5. Tax Credit Donations: Arizona state tax credit program allowing taxpayers to donate to public schools and receive dollar-for-dollar credit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Safford Unified School District delivers free public K-12 education to approximately 3,321 students across six schools (three elementary, one middle, two high schools) in the Safford/Graham County, Arizona area. The district provides preschool early intervention through 12th-grade instruction, special education services, English language learner programs, school meals, student transportation, and after-school STEM programming, supported by a general budget of approximately $14 million and 376 staff across certificated, support, and administrative roles.

Product overview

Safford Unified School District is a public school district operating six schools (3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high schools) serving 3,321 students in preschool through 12th grade. The district's technology infrastructure includes PowerSchool as its student information system, Clever for single sign-on access to educational resources, and a Free At-Home Chromebook Program providing devices to all students. The Making IT REAL (MIR) STEM program uses robotics platforms (Dash, Sphero, Ozobot) and coding curricula (Code.org, Tynter, Kodable) for after-school education. The district operates the Susan Lindsey Technology and Training Center (SLTTC) as a community resource, and provides transportation services across 832 miles of daily routes. Administrative operations are supported through the SOS (Secretaries of SUSD) system for attendance, enrollment, and reporting functions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safford Unified School District K-12 Public Education Public school district providing free education from preschool through 12th grade across six schools (Dorothy Stinson Elementary, Lafe Nelson Elementary, Ruth Powell Elementary, Safford Middle School, Safford High School, and Mt. Graham High School), serving 3,321 students with 184 certificated teachers, 177 support personnel, and 15 administrators.
• Making IT REAL (MIR) After-School STEM Program After-school STEM education program teaching coding, robotics, and STEAM concepts to SUSD students using robots (Dash, Sphero, Ozobot, Lego WeDo), coding platforms (Code.org, Tynker, Kodable), and electronics (littleBits). Includes family nights and Wonder League competitions.
• Student Transportation Services School bus transportation services covering 832 miles of daily routes across Graham County using 19 buses, serving elementary, middle, and high school students living beyond walking distance (1+ mile for K-8, 1.5+ miles for high school).
• Universal Free Meal Program (Community Eligibility Provision) Free breakfast and lunch served daily at all six school sites through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision program, eliminating the need for individual meal applications. Also operates a summer food program with drive-through pickup at Safford Middle School.
• Susan Lindsey Technology and Training Center (SLTTC) Technology training facility available to district staff and community non-profit organizations seven days a week. Accommodates 45 people with tables on wheels, crushed ice machine, popcorn machine, and two coolers, located at 1245 W. 11th St., Safford, AZ.
• SHS Scholarship Foundation Safford High School alumni-managed scholarship foundation providing scholarships to graduating seniors, supported through community donations, brick purchases, and fundraising events such as Dance It Off.

Quantifiable outcome

• Schools achieving A and B ratings under Arizona accountability system
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration21 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Arizona Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2024SUSD participates in the Achievement Tutoring Program funded through ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) to provide free tutoring services to K-12 students impacted by the pandemic.
• Graham County School Superintendent's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide FREE online live tutoring help for students K-12 through Tutor.com, covering core subjects, test prep, and homework assistance.
• Safford Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funds free Tutor.com tutoring service for SUSD students and families, providing additional learning resources and study support.
• CartwheelcoreTechnology or IntegrationDistrict's online mental health partner providing telehealth services including therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and parent guidance. Clinicians typically begin within one week of referral.
• Capturing Kids' HeartscoreTechnology or IntegrationDistrict-wide social-emotional learning framework providing Leadworthy Character Lessons for building positive relationships and developing leadership skills.
• Character StrongcoreTechnology or IntegrationCurriculum used in small group counseling sessions (3-6 students) emphasizing personal growth, empathy, and resilience.
• Google Workspace for EducationcoreTechnology or IntegrationCore educational technology platform providing Gmail, Google Classroom, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and other productivity tools for all students and staff.
• PowerSchoolcoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent Information System (SIS) providing enrollment, grades, attendance tracking, and parent/student portal access.
• ClevercoreTechnology or IntegrationSingle sign-on (SSO) platform giving students and teachers unified access to all online learning programs and resources.
• AzEIP (Arizona Early Intervention Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities (birth to 2.9 years). Referrals made through district.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tucson Unified School District: Also an Arizona public K-12 district offering preschool through 12th grade education with similar programs (Title I, ELL, Special Education, free/reduced meals). Operates in the same state regulatory environment and comparable governance structure.
• Mesa Unified School District: Large Arizona K-12 public school district with similar program offerings (CEP, SEL frameworks, 1:1 devices, CTE). Comparable as a public K-12 district operating under Arizona Department of Education oversight.
• Chandler Unified School District: Arizona public K-12 district with similar programs including CEP meals, SEL frameworks, technology integration, and CTE pathways. Direct comparison as a governing board-led public school district in Arizona.
• Flagstaff Unified School District: Public K-12 district in northern Arizona operating with similar rural-urban mix, comprehensive services including special education, ELL, and Title I programs. Comparable in scale and service mix.
• Scottsdale Unified School District: Arizona public K-12 district with similar governance structure, comprehensive support services, and technology integration. Useful comparable for understanding Arizona public K-12 operations at scale.

Regional players

• Globe Unified School District: Neighboring small rural Arizona public school district serving Gila County. Comparable in rural scale, funding structure, and similar program offerings including Title I and free meal programs.

Others

• Cartwheel: Mental health telehealth provider serving as SUSD's partner for student therapy, psychiatric evaluations, and medication management. Adjacent service provider rather than competitor.
• PowerSchool Group LLC: Vendor providing the Student Information System used by SUSD for grades, attendance, and parent portals. As a technology partner, not a peer, but relevant as an enabler of district operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Safford-Unified-School-District-100071547344613
• Instagraminstagram.com/saffordunifiedschooldistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safford-high-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Safford Unified School District