Average
#771 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 42% in state
Cottonwood Elementary School
Elementary School · Montrose County School District Re-1j · Montrose, CO
A Montrose County School District Re-1j elementary school where students score 9 points above what's typical for similar communities.
P O BOX 10000, Montrose, CO 81402
- Math 45% vs CO 40% (2025)
- Reading 56% vs CO 45% (2025)
- 18.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cottonwood Elementary School score 51% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 13 points since 2020, reaching 50% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 61% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
41%
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 School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 39Car-Dependent
- Bike 35Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,461/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Montrose), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outer RangeEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | PK–12 | 2.0 mi | 83 | Compare → |
| Pomona Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | K–5 | 2.0 mi | 328 | Compare → |
| Pope John Paul II AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.5private | PK–7 | 2.4 mi | 65 | Compare → |
| Northside Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | K–5 | 3.0 mi | 338 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Montrose County School District Re-1j
- Schools in district
- 15
- Rank in district
- #2 of 13
- District spending per student
- $11,857NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cottonwood Elementary School is listed in Montrose County School District Re-1J; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cottonwood Elementary School
Cottonwood Elementary School is a public elementary school in Montrose, CO, part of Montrose County School District Re-1j, serving approximately 412 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 18.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #771 of 1,815 schools in CO. State assessment records show 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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 5th.
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary School?
Cottonwood Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 412 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary School is 18.7:1. 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 CO?
Cottonwood Elementary School ranks #771 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Cottonwood Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Cottonwood Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 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 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cottonwood Elementary School?
41.0% of students at Cottonwood Elementary School 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 – 5th
- Enrollment
- 412
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Montrose County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.9%
- Phone
- (970) 249-2539
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 · 2025 CMAS · 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 from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 CMAS · 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 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.
- 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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