Excellent
#243 of 1,294 schools in KS
Top 19% in state
Based on limited data
Cottonwood Elem
Elementary School · Paola · Paola, KS
A Paola elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 2nd.
1115 E 303rd Street, Paola, KS 66071
- 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on KS statewide data.Learn more
Academics
Partial Profile · 2/3 metricsRequires 2+ years of test data
View breakdown
Component weights adjusted due to data availability.
Test scores
Most recent published year. School vs. KS average.
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
44.8%
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 Elem 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 Kansas City map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 16Car-Dependent
- Bike 40Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,382/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Paola), 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
$82,042
Median home value
$261,400
Median rent
$1,068/mo
College educated
30.5%
Homeownership
78.6%
Poverty rate
4.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 66071; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Trinity SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.4 | PK–8 | 1.3 mi | 94 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Paola
- Schools in district
- 4
- Rank in district
- #2 of 4
- District spending per student
- $22,896NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 5.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cottonwood Elem is listed in Paola; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cottonwood Elem
Cottonwood Elem is a public elementary school in Paola, KS, part of Paola, serving approximately 359 students in grades Pre-K-2nd with a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #243 of 1,294 schools in KS. Based on limited data: 40% component coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cottonwood Elem
What grades does Cottonwood Elem serve?
Cottonwood Elem serves students in grades Pre-K through 2nd.
How many students attend Cottonwood Elem?
Cottonwood Elem has an enrollment of approximately 359 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elem is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cottonwood Elem rank in KS?
Cottonwood Elem ranks #243 of 1,294 schools in KS.
What is Cottonwood Elem's MySchoolScout rating?
Cottonwood Elem has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
Is Cottonwood Elem a charter school?
No, Cottonwood Elem is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cottonwood Elem a Title I school?
No, Cottonwood Elem is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cottonwood Elem?
44.8% of students at Cottonwood Elem 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
- Pre-K – 2nd
- Enrollment
- 359
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Miami County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.0%
- Phone
- (913) 294-8050
- Area population (ZIP 66071)
- 12,425
- Area average commute
- 31 min
- Area median age
- 45.9
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.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource 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 66071; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments vintage unavailable; directory SY 2023–24
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