Average
#4027 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 42% in state
Cottonwood Elementary
Elementary School · Westside Union Elementary · Palmdale, CA
A Westside Union Elementary elementary school where students score 11 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2740 West Ave. P-8, Palmdale, CA 93551
- Math 47% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 60% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 28:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cottonwood Elementary score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 12 points since 2018, reaching 54% in 2024.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 43% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
57.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Cottonwood Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Los Angeles map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 16Car-Dependent
- Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,441/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Palmdale), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$110,850
Median home value
$548,800
Median rent
$2,263/mo
College educated
30.1%
Homeownership
77.2%
Poverty rate
6.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93551; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summerwind ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.1 | K–5 | 1.3 mi | 569 | Compare → |
| Dos Caminos Dual ImmersionEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | K–8 | 1.5 mi | 902 | Compare → |
| Palmdale Discovery CenterEnrollment path unverified | 7.9 | K–8 | 1.5 mi | 216 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Westside Union Elementary
- Schools in district
- 12
- Rank in district
- #1 of 12
- District spending per student
- $13,325NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cottonwood Elementary is listed in Westside Union Elementary; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cottonwood Elementary
Cottonwood Elementary is a public elementary school in Palmdale, CA, part of Westside Union Elementary, serving approximately 615 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 28:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #4,027 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cottonwood Elementary
What grades does Cottonwood Elementary serve?
Cottonwood Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary?
Cottonwood Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 615 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary is 28:1. 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 CA?
Cottonwood Elementary ranks #4,027 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Cottonwood Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Cottonwood Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
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.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cottonwood Elementary?
57.1% of students at Cottonwood Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 615
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 28:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Los Angeles County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 22.0%
- Phone
- (661) 267-2825
- Area population (ZIP 93551)
- 54,956
- Area average commute
- 36 min
- Area median age
- 37.9
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 93551; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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