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Excellent

#8 of 719 schools in ID

Top 1% in state

Prairie Elementary School

Elementary School · COTTONWOOD JOINT DISTRICT

PO BOX 570, Cottonwood, ID 83522

Enrollment

241

Student-Teacher

15.1:1

Score

9.2

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Idaho schools

#8 of 719

In Cottonwood

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#1 of 2

COTTONWOOD JOINT DISTRICT

Academic performance

9.7 / 10

Excellent

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Prairie Elementary School

9.2/10

Elementary School in Cottonwood · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St John Bosco Academy

6.2/10

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

Prairie Jr/sr High School

8.3/10

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

About Prairie Elementary School

Prairie Elementary School is a public elementary school in Cottonwood, ID, part of COTTONWOOD JOINT DISTRICT. Prairie Elementary School serves approximately 241 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Prairie Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10 and ranks #8 of 719 schools in ID.

Structured state assessment records for Prairie Elementary School show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares2.8 pts above ID schools
  • This school 9.2 · Excellent
  • ID avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Prairie Elementary School 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.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-2.34 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.7Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency77% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency72% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency75% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)50% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+24.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile95th
Resources & Environment9.2Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,565
Chronic Absenteeism5.8%

Prairie Elementary School — Students at Prairie Elementary School score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

26.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores ID EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 74.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 71.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 26 test records from ID state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
97.5%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
95%
ELA
95%
2011
Math
92%
ELA
97.5%
2012
Math
92%
ELA
97.5%
2014
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
72%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2019
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2020*
Math
72%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
72%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
77%
ELA
72%

* 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: 8.8/10.

How Prairie Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
9.2/10
99th percentile in ID
Academic
9.7/10
Excellent
Growth
8.8/10
Excellent
Environment
9.2/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
27%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
16 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
5.8%

Location

PO BOX 570, Cottonwood, ID 83522

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Prairie Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. OROFINO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.7/10, 29.6 miles away, in nearby Orofino), with a comparable rating. Another option is GRANGEVILLE ELEM/MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 7.8/10, 14.3 miles away, in nearby Grangeville), a more accessible option. Additionally, KAMIAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 5.9/10, 18.8 miles away, in nearby Kamiah), a more accessible option. For more schools in Cottonwood, see our Cottonwood schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 32.2 mi
School Distance Rating
ST JOHN BOSCO ACADEMY Cottonwood 0.5 mi 6.2
PRAIRIE JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL Cottonwood 2.8 mi 8.3
NEZPERCE SCHOOL Nezperce 13.3 mi 8.8
HIGHLAND SCHOOL Craigmont 14.0 mi 5.1
STS PETER & PAUL SCHOOL Grangeville 14.1 mi 5.3
GRANGEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL Grangeville 14.3 mi 6.9
GRANGEVILLE ELEM/MIDDLE SCHOOL Grangeville 14.3 mi 7.8
KAMIAH MIDDLE SCHOOL Kamiah 18.7 mi 6.1
KAMIAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Kamiah 18.8 mi 5.9
KAMIAH SENIOR HIGH Kamiah 18.9 mi 6.6
KAMIAH BIBLE ACADEMY Kamiah 18.9 mi
CLEARWATER VALLEY JR/SR Kooskia 18.1 mi 6.4
CLEARWATER VALLEY ELEMENTARY Kooskia 18.8 mi 5.2
PECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Peck 28.8 mi 2.8
OROFINO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Orofino 29.6 mi 8.7
OROFINO HIGH SCHOOL Orofino 30.2 mi 7.0
CULDESAC SCHOOL Culdesac 26.7 mi 5.2
CAVENDISH-TEAKEAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lenore 34.4 mi
LAPWAI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lapwai 31.9 mi 4.3
LAPWAI MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL Lapwai 32.2 mi 6.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 83522 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$67,438

Median Home Value

$237,900

Median Rent

$850/mo

Population

2,620

College Educated

17.5%

Homeownership

77.2%

Poverty Rate

12.8%

Median Age

35.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
A B MCDONALD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Moscow, ID 9.1
FRONTIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Boise, ID 9.1
HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Boise, ID 9.1
COLLISTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Boise, ID 9.3
DONNELLY ELEMENTARY Donnelly, ID 9.0
EDAHOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Pocatello, ID 9.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Prairie Elementary School

What grades does Prairie Elementary School serve?

Prairie Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Prairie Elementary School?

Prairie Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 241 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Elementary School is 15.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Prairie Elementary School rank in ID?

Prairie Elementary School ranks #8 of 719 schools in ID.

What is Prairie Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Prairie Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 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 Prairie Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Prairie Elementary School has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Prairie Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Prairie Elementary School a Title I school?

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

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Prairie Elementary School?

26.6% of students at Prairie 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
17 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
37 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
241
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
16
Free/Reduced Lunch
26.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Idaho County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
5.8%

District

COTTONWOOD JOINT DISTRICT
District Enrollment
435
Schools in District
2
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,565
District Rank
#1 of 2

Other Schools in This District

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