Needs Improvement
#818 of 864 schools in NM
Based on limited data
Cottonwood Elementary
Elementary School · Carlsbad · Carlsbad, NM
A Carlsbad elementary school where students score 17 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1609 W LEA STREET, Carlsbad, NM 88220
- Math 19% proficient (2022)
- Reading 20% proficient (2022)
- 16:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Partial Profile · 2/3 metricsRequires 2+ years of test data
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cottonwood Elementary score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).
Component weights adjusted due to data availability.
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NM average.
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
49.9%
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.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 26Car-Dependent
- Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,338/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Carlsbad), 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
$79,668
Median home value
$192,600
Median rent
$1,218/mo
College educated
20.4%
Homeownership
75.5%
Poverty rate
12%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 88220; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education CenterEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | PK–K | 0.1 mi | 212 | Compare → |
| Carlsbad Enrichment CenterEnrollment path unverified | 2.4 | 1–12 | 1.2 mi | 234 | Compare → |
| Sunset ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | K–5 | 1.3 mi | 419 | Compare → |
| Jefferson MontessoriCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.9 | K–12 | 1.5 mi | 258 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Carlsbad
- Schools in district
- 14
- Rank in district
- #10 of 13
- District spending per student
- $13,304NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cottonwood Elementary is listed in CARLSBAD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cottonwood Elementary
Cottonwood Elementary is a public elementary school in Carlsbad, NM, part of Carlsbad, serving approximately 671 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks #818 of 864 schools in NM. State assessment records show 19% math proficiency (2022 EdFacts) and 20% reading/ELA proficiency (2022 EdFacts).
Based on limited data: 50% component coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cottonwood Elementary
What grades does Cottonwood Elementary serve?
Cottonwood Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary?
Cottonwood Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 671 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary is 16:1. 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 NM?
Cottonwood Elementary ranks #818 of 864 schools in NM.
What is Cottonwood Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Cottonwood Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 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 19% math proficiency (2022 EdFacts) and 20% reading/ELA proficiency (2022 EdFacts).
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?
49.9% 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 – 5th
- Enrollment
- 671
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 42
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Eddy County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 53.2%
- Phone
- (575) 234-3304
- Area population (ZIP 88220)
- 40,151
- Area average commute
- 21.5 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.
- 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.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- 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 · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- 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.
- 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 88220; 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 2022 EdFacts; directory SY 2023–24
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