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Excellent

#192 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Top 10% in state

Cottonwood Elementary

Elementary School · Colorado City Unified District (4370)

PO BOX 309, Colorado City, AZ 86021

Enrollment

357

Student-Teacher

21:1

Score

8.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Arizona schools

#192 of 2,006

In Colorado City

#1 of 3

public schools

In district

#1 of 2

Colorado City Unified District (4370)

Academic growth

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Cottonwood Elementary

8.5/10

Elementary School in Colorado City · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Water Canyon High

8.0/10

0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Water Canyon School

7.5/10

1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Cottonwood Elementary

Cottonwood Elementary is a public elementary school in Colorado City, AZ, part of Colorado City Unified District (4370). Cottonwood Elementary serves approximately 357 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 21:1 student-teacher ratio. Cottonwood Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #192 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

Structured state assessment records for Cottonwood Elementary show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2022) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2022).

How it compares2.1 pts above AZ schools
  • This school 8.5 · Excellent
  • AZ avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Cottonwood Elementary runs 21:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

Cottonwood Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

38% of students at Cottonwood Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.4Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data9
Annual Change-1 pts/yr
Data Period2014–2022
TrendStable
Academics8.0Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency37% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency37% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency37% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)18% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+19.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile70th
Resources & Environment7.1Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio21:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,240
Chronic Absenteeism37.5%

Cottonwood Elementary — Students at Cottonwood Elementary score 37% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 18%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 55.3% (multi-year average, 2014-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 50.3% (multi-year average, 2014-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 18 test records from AZ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2014
Math
54.5%
ELA
24.5%
2015
Math
64.5%
ELA
54.5%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
57%
2018
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2019
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2020*
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
37%
ELA
37%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.4/10.

How Cottonwood Elementary Compares

See how Cottonwood Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.5/10
91th percentile in AZ
Academic
8.0/10
Excellent
Growth
9.4/10
Excellent
Environment
7.1/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
21:1 student-teacher ratio
17 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
37.5%

Location

PO BOX 309, Colorado City, AZ 86021

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Cottonwood Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Valley School (rated 8.4/10, 26.9 miles away, in nearby Orderville), with a very similar rating. Another option is Valley Academy (rated 7.8/10, 22.7 miles away, in nearby Hurricane), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Water Canyon School (rated 7.5/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby Hildale), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Colorado City, see our Colorado City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 24.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Water Canyon High Hildale 0.9 mi 8.0
Water Canyon School Hildale 1.0 mi 7.5
El Capitan Public School Colorado City 1.9 mi 7.6
CENTENNIAL ACADEMY Centennial Park 2.4 mi 5.8
Masada Charter School Colorado City 2.5 mi 7.1
Springdale School Springdale 13.7 mi 2.0
LaVerkin School Laverkin 22.0 mi 5.8
Hurricane Intermediate Hurricane 21.4 mi 5.4
Three Falls School Hurricane 21.7 mi 7.1
Hurricane High Hurricane 21.9 mi 6.1
SUNRISE ACADEMY La Verkin 22.6 mi 5.6
Hurricane Middle Hurricane 22.2 mi 4.3
Hurricane School Hurricane 22.7 mi 6.2
Valley Academy Hurricane 22.7 mi 7.8
Valley School Orderville 26.9 mi 8.4
Valley High Orderville 27.0 mi 8.7
Kanab Middle Kanab 24.5 mi 7.5
Kanab School Kanab 24.6 mi 6.7
Kanab High Kanab 24.6 mi 8.4
Kane Preschool Kanab 24.7 mi 4.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 86021 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$75,781

Median Home Value

$239,400

Median Rent

$1,397/mo

Population

4,619

College Educated

15.8%

Homeownership

67.6%

Poverty Rate

18.3%

Median Age

19

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Center for Educational Excellence Tempe, AZ 8.5
Charles W Sechrist Elementary School Flagstaff, AZ 8.5
Copper Ridge Elementary Corona De Tucson, AZ 8.5
Kyrene del Norte School Tempe, AZ 8.5
Marshall Elementary School Tucson, AZ 8.5
Stepping Stones Academy Phoenix, AZ 8.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Cottonwood Elementary

What grades does Cottonwood Elementary serve?

Cottonwood Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary?

Cottonwood Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 357 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary is 21:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Cottonwood Elementary rank in AZ?

Cottonwood Elementary ranks #192 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is Cottonwood Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Cottonwood Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Cottonwood Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Cottonwood Elementary has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2022) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2022).

Is Cottonwood Elementary a charter school?

No, Cottonwood Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Cottonwood Elementary a Title I school?

No, Cottonwood Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
18 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
357
Student-Teacher Ratio
21:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Mohave County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
37.5%

District

Colorado City Unified District (4370)
District Enrollment
557
Schools in District
2
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,240
District Rank
#1 of 2

Other Schools in This District

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