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Excellent

#310 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Top 15% in state

Cottonwood Elementary School

Elementary School · Vail Unified District (4413)

PO BOX 800, Vail, AZ 85641

Enrollment

531

Student-Teacher

15.6:1

Score

8.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Arizona schools

#310 of 2,006

In Vail

#5 of 11

public schools

In district

#9 of 23

Vail Unified District (4413)

Academic performance

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Cottonwood Elementary School

8.2/10

Elementary School in Vail · grades Kindergarten – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Desert Sky Middle School

6.7/10

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

Desert Willow Elementary School

8.4/10

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

About Cottonwood Elementary School

Cottonwood Elementary School is a public elementary school in Vail, AZ, part of Vail Unified District (4413). Cottonwood Elementary School serves approximately 531 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-6th, and has a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Cottonwood Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #310 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

Structured state assessment records for Cottonwood Elementary School show 71% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 8.2 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.4
  • AZ avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.8Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.54 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency66% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency55% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency61% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)49% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+11.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,071
Chronic Absenteeism26.7%

Cottonwood Elementary School — Students at Cottonwood Elementary School score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 71.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 68.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from AZ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
86%
ELA
90%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
85%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
81%
ELA
86%
2013
Math
79%
ELA
89%
2014
Math
60%
ELA
39%
2015
Math
68%
ELA
56%
2016
Math
65%
ELA
58%
2017
Math
76%
ELA
65%
2018
Math
70%
ELA
66%
2019
Math
70%
ELA
66%
2020*
Math
53%
ELA
54%
2021*
Math
53%
ELA
54%
2022
Math
66%
ELA
55%

* 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: 7.8/10.

How Cottonwood Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
8.2/10
85th percentile in AZ
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
7.8/10
Very Good
Environment
8.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
34 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
26.7%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

PO BOX 800, Vail, AZ 85641

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Cottonwood Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Ocotillo Ridge Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 4.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Esmond Station School (rated 9.2/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Tucson), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Senita Valley Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 3.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Vail, see our Vail schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Desert Sky Middle School Tucson 0.9 mi 6.7
Desert Willow Elementary School Tucson 1.0 mi 8.4
Empire High School Tucson 1.0 mi 8.2
Vail Innovation Center Vail 1.0 mi 9.1
Vail Blended Learning Tucson 1.2 mi 6.2
Mesquite Elementary School Tucson 1.6 mi 8.9
PCJTED - Mica Mountain High School Tucson 1.8 mi
Mica Mountain High Tucson 1.8 mi 6.3
Esmond Station School Tucson 1.7 mi 9.2
Vail Academy & High School Vail 2.8 mi 8.5
Rincon Vista Middle School Tucson 3.3 mi 6.5
Senita Valley Elementary School Vail 3.3 mi 9.0
Civano Community K-8 School Tucson 3.8 mi 7.5
Vail Inclusive Preschool Vail 4.2 mi 4.4
PCJTED - Cienega High School Tucson 4.3 mi
Cienega High School Vail 4.3 mi 7.9
PCJTED - Andrada Polytechnic High School Tucson 5.2 mi
Andrada Polytechnic High School Vail 5.2 mi 7.2
Pantano High School Vail 5.3 mi 6.8
Ocotillo Ridge Elementary Vail 4.9 mi 9.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85641 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$121,647

Median Home Value

$372,500

Median Rent

$1,829/mo

Population

31,665

College Educated

45.9%

Homeownership

93.3%

Avg Commute

32.5 min

Poverty Rate

5.1%

Median Age

39.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Abraham Lincoln Traditional School Phoenix, AZ 8.2
Candeo Peoria Peoria, AZ 8.2
Copper Ridge School Scottsdale, AZ 8.2
Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary Queen Creek, AZ 8.2
Fuller Elementary School Tempe, AZ 8.2
Hearn Academy The - A Ball Charter School Phoenix, AZ 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Cottonwood Elementary School

What grades does Cottonwood Elementary School serve?

Cottonwood Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.

How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary School?

Cottonwood Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 531 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School is 15.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Cottonwood Elementary School rank in AZ?

Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #310 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is Cottonwood Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Cottonwood Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 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 School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Cottonwood Elementary School has 71% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Cottonwood Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Cottonwood Elementary School a Title I school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
21 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
0 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
44 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
531
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
34
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Pima County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
26.7%

District

Vail Unified District (4413)
District Enrollment
14,831
Schools in District
23
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,071
District Rank
#9 of 23

How we rate schools

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