5.8 avg / 10

Best Schools in Cottonwood, Arizona

12 schools · 6 Elementary · 3 High · 3 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 10

Private: 2

Districts: 5

Avg Rating: 5.8/10

Estimated Scores: 30%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 5.8/10
Median household income: $58,250
Median home value: $312,400
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25%
Avg commute: 21 min
Owner-occupied homes: 64%

How Cottonwood compares

Arizona rank

#75 of 95

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.4

below Arizona avg (6.3)

Median household income

$58k

82% of Arizona median

Schools in this city

10

About Schools in Cottonwood, Arizona

Cottonwood, Arizona is home to 12 schools, including 10 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 6 elementary schools, , and 3 high schools.

With an average rating of 5.8 out of 10, schools in Cottonwood show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in Cottonwood is American Heritage Academy - Camp Verde with a composite score of 7.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Cottonwood is served by 5 school districts. These districts collectively serve 3,409 students.

Cottonwood's community shows 25% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $58,250. The poverty rate in the area is 13.8%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (12) Elementary (6) High (3)

Filter by Type: All Types (12) Public (10) Private (2)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (12) Academics (12) Growth (6) Resources (8)

Filter by ZIP: 86326 (12)

Elementary Schools

6 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	American Heritage Academy - Camp Verde 111 students · Kindergarten–8th	111	Kindergarten–8th	7.3
2	Cottonwood Community School 421 students · Kindergarten–8th	421	Kindergarten–8th	6.2
3	Liberty Leadership Academy 69 students · Kindergarten–8th	69	Kindergarten–8th	6.1
4	Dr Daniel Bright Elementary School 596 students · Pre-K–8th	596	Pre-K–8th	6.1
5	Mountain View Preparatory School 398 students · Kindergarten–8th	398	Kindergarten–8th	5.7
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	VERDE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 168 students · Pre-K–8th	168	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated

High Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Mingus Union High School 1,201 students · 9th–12th	1,201	9th–12th	4.9
2	VACTE - Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education 11 students · 9th–12th	11	9th–12th	—
3	Mingus Online Academy 8 students · 8th–12th	8	8th–12th	—

Other Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Cottonwood Education Services 93 students · Pre-K–12th	93	Pre-K–12th	7.2
2	American Heritage Academy - Cottonwood 265 students · Kindergarten–12th	265	Kindergarten–12th	5.6
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	RISE RESOURCE CENTER Private 46 students · Kindergarten–12th	46	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated

Schools in Cottonwood

Cottonwood, Arizona · 12 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$58,250

Median Home Value

$312,400

Median Rent

$1,102/mo

Population

25,476

College Educated

25%

Homeownership

64%

Avg Commute

21 min

Poverty Rate

13.8%

Community Profile

Cottonwood has a median household income of $58,250. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $312,400, with a median rent of $1,102/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.8%. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: Arizona
Total Schools: 12
Elementary: 6
High: 3
Districts: 5
Avg Rating: 5.8/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Cottonwood schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Cottonwood 📊 Niche Cottonwood Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (5)

Edkey Inc. dba American Heritage Academy (6365)

2 schools · 376 students

Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education (79397)

7 schools · 13 students

Liberty Leadership Academy (1001520)

1 school · 69 students

Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District (4487)

6 schools · 1,742 students

Mingus Union High School District (4488)

2 schools · 1,209 students

Nearby Cities

Clarkdale (1 school)

5 mi

Cornville (2 schools)

6 mi

Camp Verde (6 schools)

Dewey-Humboldt (2 schools)

19 mi

Prescott Valley (16 schools)

Chino Valley (5 schools)

27 mi

Prescott (25 schools)

Flagstaff (14 schools)

39 mi

Other Major Cities in Arizona

Top metros statewide by school count.

Tucson 337 schools Mesa 154 schools Glendale 107 schools Chandler 93 schools Gilbert 85 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Cottonwood, Arizona

How many schools are in Cottonwood, Arizona?

Cottonwood has 12 schools, including 10 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Cottonwood, Arizona?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Cottonwood is 5.8 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Cottonwood, Arizona?

The top-ranked school in Cottonwood on MySchoolScout is American Heritage Academy - Camp Verde with a composite score of 7.3/10.

What is the best elementary school in Cottonwood, Arizona?

The top-ranked elementary school in Cottonwood on MySchoolScout is American Heritage Academy - Camp Verde with a composite score of 7.3/10.

What is the best high school in Cottonwood, Arizona?

The top-ranked high school in Cottonwood on MySchoolScout is Mingus Union High School with a composite score of 4.9/10.

How many school districts serve Cottonwood, Arizona?

Cottonwood is served by 5 school districts: Edkey Inc. Dba American Heritage Academy (6365), Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education (79397), Liberty Leadership Academy (1001520), Cottonwood-oak Creek Elementary District (4487), Mingus Union High School District (4488).

What is the education level in Cottonwood, Arizona?

According to Census data, 25% of adults in Cottonwood have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Cottonwood, Arizona?

The median household income in Cottonwood is approximately $58,250 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Cottonwood, Arizona?

Yes, Cottonwood has 2 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Verde Christian Academy with a score of 5.3/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Cottonwood, Arizona?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Cottonwood is 15.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Cottonwood, Arizona?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.