Willie & Coy Payne Jr. High

www.cusd80.com/PJHS

1,143 Students

Middle School 7th - 8th

School Overview

Willie & Coy Payne Jr. High, located in Queen Creek, Arizona, is a prominent middle school within the Chandler Unified School District. Serving students in grades 7 and 8, the school is well-regarded for maintaining high academic standards and fostering a supportive, structured environment. It places a strong emphasis on preparing students for the transition to high school by offering a comprehensive curriculum that balances core academic subjects—such as English, mathematics, science, and social studies—with a variety of elective opportunities designed to engage diverse student interests.

Beyond the classroom, Payne Jr. High is known for its vibrant campus culture, which encourages student participation in athletics, arts, and extracurricular clubs. The school prides itself on community involvement and effective communication between faculty, parents, and students, aiming to create a collaborative educational experience. By prioritizing both character development and academic excellence, Payne Jr. High seeks to cultivate a well-rounded student body equipped with the critical thinking and interpersonal skills necessary for future success.

1,143

Total Students

55.8

Full-Time Teachers

20.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Willie & Coy Payne Jr. High
Demographic	Student Count
White	768
Hispanic	214
Black	42
Asian	43
Two or More	54
American Indian	19
Pacific Islander	3

White
768 (67.2 %)
Hispanic
214 (18.7 %)
Two or More
54 (4.7 %)
Asian
43 (3.8 %)
Black
42 (3.7 %)
American Indian
19 (1.7 %)
Pacific Islander
3 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Chandler Unified District #80 (4242)
Phone:	(480)224-2400
Website:	http://www.cusd80.com/PJHS
Grade Range:	7th - 8th
Total Students:	1,143
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	55.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	20.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 7 553

Grade 8 590