Safford Unified School District
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1912
- HeadquartersSafford, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Safford Unified School District firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Safford Unified School District industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Safford Unified School District is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Safford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Safford Unified School District business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Local Tax Revenue: As a fiscally independent public school district, primary funding comes from local property taxes levied on district residents.
- State Funding: State per-pupil funding allocated by the Arizona Department of Education based on student enrollment and attendance.
- Federal Grants: Federal funding including Title I, Special Education (IDEA), and other categorical grants from the U.S. Department of Education.
- Federal Meal Reimbursement: Reimbursement from USDA for meals served under the Community Eligibility Provision program.
- Tax Credit Donations: Arizona state tax credit program allowing taxpayers to donate to public schools and receive dollar-for-dollar credit.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free public education (K-12) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Safford Unified School District product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Safford Unified School District
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Safford Unified School District technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration21 records
Feature8 records
Safford Unified School District partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Arizona Department of EducationcoreSUSD 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 OfficecorePartnership to provide FREE online live tutoring help for students K-12 through Tutor.com, covering core subjects, test prep, and homework assistance.
- Safford Public LibrarycoreCo-funds free Tutor.com tutoring service for SUSD students and families, providing additional learning resources and study support.
- CartwheelcoreDistrict'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' HeartscoreDistrict-wide social-emotional learning framework providing Leadworthy Character Lessons for building positive relationships and developing leadership skills.
- Character StrongcoreCurriculum used in small group counseling sessions (3-6 students) emphasizing personal growth, empathy, and resilience.
- Google Workspace for EducationcoreCore educational technology platform providing Gmail, Google Classroom, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and other productivity tools for all students and staff.
- PowerSchoolcoreStudent Information System (SIS) providing enrollment, grades, attendance tracking, and parent/student portal access.
- ClevercoreSingle sign-on (SSO) platform giving students and teachers unified access to all online learning programs and resources.
- AzEIP (Arizona Early Intervention Program)coreState 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
Safford Unified School District competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Safford Unified School District social profiles
Digital presenceSafford Unified School District financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Safford Unified School District leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Safford Unified School District funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Safford Unified School District M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Safford Unified School District
What does Safford Unified School District do?
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.
Is Safford Unified School District a public or private company?
Safford Unified School District is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Safford Unified School District founded?
Safford Unified School District was founded in 1912. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Safford Unified School District based?
Safford Unified School District is headquartered in Safford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Safford Unified School District make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Local Tax Revenue is the primary driver. The others are state Funding, federal Grants, federal Meal Reimbursement and tax Credit Donations.
Who are Safford Unified School District's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tucson Unified School District, Mesa Unified School District, Chandler Unified School District, Flagstaff Unified School District and Scottsdale Unified School District. Globe Unified School District is listed as a regional player. Others are Cartwheel and PowerSchool Group LLC.
Does Safford Unified School District have an API?
No public API is recorded for Safford Unified School District.
What industry is Safford Unified School District in?
Safford Unified School District's product category is K-12 Public Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADABAA, Public School Districts (K–12), with a secondary code of EDAJAAAB, Public Elementary Schools. Its NAICS code is 611110 and its SIC code is 8200.