THE HEART OF ARIZONA
PAYSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Enrollment for the 2007-2008 school High School and Payson Center for Suc-
Payson Unified School District #10
year is for students in six schools: Julia cess High School hold North Central As-
serves the Town of Payson and outlying
Randall, Payson, and Frontier Elementary sociation of Colleges and Schools accredi-
communities such as Star Valley, Tonto
Schools (grades K-5), Rim Country Middle tation. Special Education is offered in all
Village, Christopher Creek and the Tonto
School (grades 6-8), Payson High School federal and state-defined categories in the
Apache Reservation. While PUSD covers a
(grades 9-12) and Payson Center for Suc- least restrictive environment.
vast 554 square miles, U.S. forest service
cess High School (grades 10-12, ages 16- Curriculum at all Payson schools in
land occupies most of that expanse.
21). Julia Randall Elementary School op- the core content areas of reading, writing,
erates a special needs pre-school. Payson math and science is aligned and articulat-
ed by grade level with the nationally-rec-
ognized Arizona Academic Standards. In-
T H E S T R AW B E R R Y
structional strategies and decisions address
each student’s learning style and employ
S C H O O L H O U S E C A P E R
best practices based on scientifically-based
research. The District receives “No Child
Left Behind” funding and offers supple-
mental academic, innovative and preven-
Fixtures in early Arizona Rim
tion programming in all schools.
Country schools were, as you
The statewide AIMS test (Arizona’s
might imagine, spartan. In the
Instrument to Measure Students) places
Strawberry Schoolhouse, for
Payson students at or above the county
example, they included a few
and state averages in almost every grade
rough wood benches, a potbel-
and content area tested. Starting with
ly stove, a shelf of books, and
the Class of 2006, all high school stu-
slates for writing. Far from a
dents must pass the AIMS test to receive
store, the teacher hoarded her
a high school diploma. PUSD adminis-
chalk like a miser his gold.
tration, faculty and staff are committed
to giving struggling and borderline stu-
One day back in 1886, a piece of
dents the extra help they need to master
chalk disappeared, then another,
the standards and pass the AIMS test.
and another. Next it was an eras-
An Arizona taxpayer credit up to
er, then the teacher’s gold watch left unattended during recess. Suspecting a thief, the stu-
$400 per household allows contributions
dents were kept after school and interrogated individually, read the Ten Commandments and
to schools for extracurricular activities.
sent home with notes. Nobody ever confessed. The teacher eventually left Strawberry Valley.
Payson Unified School District raises al-
The children grew up and had children of their own.
most $200,000 annually from its Credit
for Kids campaign for fine arts, sports,
Fast forward to 1965. After being abandoned and forgotten for over half a century,
special interest clubs, after-school pro-
public-spirited citizens have raised money to restore the Strawberry School and open
grams, career and cultural trips, and the
it as a museum. When carpenters ventured into the attic to set rafters for a new roof,
high school stadium.
they found the answer to an 80-year-old mystery. In the attic was a pack rat’s nest
All schools except Payson Center for
containing bits of glitter and glass, hairpins and coins. And yes, pieces of chalk, an
eraser, and a lady’s gold watch.
Success have music programs including
general music, band, chorus, strings, gui-
Today the Strawberry Schoolhouse is a treasured
tar, and hand bells. Payson High School
landmark and a registered historical site. Besides
has a renowned Drama Department. Rim
being a major tourist attraction, area school chil-
Country Middle School and Payson High
dren now go there to observe authentic demon-
School field teams in many sports: foot-
strations of such historical activities as butter
ball, basketball, track, cross country, wres-
churning, weaving, and roping. With its paneled
tling, baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer
wainscoting and wallpaper, the restored school-
and golf. PHS currently competes in the
house stands today as a proud testament to the
state’s 4A Conference, Grand Canyon Re-
early settlers’ thirst for knowledge. Ask the Cham-
gion, against Flagstaff, Cottonwood, Page
ber volunteers for hours of operation & directions.
and Prescott schools.
You will be glad you toured the school.
Payson Unified School District is a
member district of Northern Arizona Voca-
photos by Chris Picknally
tional Institute of Technology. NAVIT fund-
ing supports ten top rural Career Techni-
cal Education programs at Payson High
14
Rim Country Visitor’s Guide
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