Needs Improvement
#818 of 864 schools in NM
Based on limited data
Cottonwood Elementary
Elementary School · CARLSBAD
1609 W LEA STREET, Carlsbad, NM 88220
Enrollment
671
Student-Teacher
16:1
Score
3.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
671
Student-Teacher
16:1
Score
3.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
New Mexico schools
#818 of 864
In Carlsbad
#10 of 13
public schools
In district
#10 of 13
CARLSBAD
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Cottonwood Elementary
Elementary School in Carlsbad · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Early Childhood Education Center
0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Hillcrest Preschool
0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Cottonwood Elementary
Cottonwood Elementary is a public elementary school in Carlsbad, NM, part of CARLSBAD. Cottonwood Elementary serves approximately 671 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. Cottonwood Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks #818 of 864 schools in NM.
Structured state assessment records for Cottonwood Elementary show 19% math proficiency (2022 EdFacts) and 20% reading/ELA proficiency (2022 EdFacts). Based on limited data: 50% component coverage.
- This school 3.8 · Needs Improvement
- District avg 6.0
- NM avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
53% of students at Cottonwood Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Partial Profile · 2/3 metricsRequires 2+ years of test data
View breakdown
View breakdown
Cottonwood Elementary — Students at Cottonwood Elementary score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
49.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Component weights adjusted due to data availability.
Test Scores NM EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 2 test records from NM state assessments. About our data
How Cottonwood Elementary Compares
See how Cottonwood Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
1609 W LEA STREET, Carlsbad, NM 88220
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Cottonwood Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. LOVING ELEMENTARY (rated 9.1/10, 12.7 miles away, in nearby Loving), which scores notably higher. Another option is OCOTILLO ELEMENTARY (rated 8.2/10, 3.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, YESO ELEMENTARY (rated 7.7/10, 30.6 miles away, in nearby Artesia), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Carlsbad, see our Carlsbad schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 31.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER Carlsbad | 0.1 mi | 5.4 |
| HILLCREST PRESCHOOL Carlsbad | 0.1 mi | 4.4 |
| CARLSBAD SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY - ALTA VISTA CAMPUS Carlsbad | 0.3 mi | 5.3 |
| SUNSET ELEMENTARY Carlsbad | 1.3 mi | 5.0 |
| CARLSBAD ENRICHMENT CENTER Carlsbad | 1.2 mi | 2.4 |
| CARLSBAD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL - PR LEYVA CAMPUS Carlsbad | 1.3 mi | 3.5 |
| JEFFERSON MONTESSORI Carlsbad | 1.5 mi | 5.9 |
| CARLSBAD HIGH Carlsbad | 1.6 mi | 3.4 |
| CARLSBAD EARLY COLLEGE HIGH Carlsbad | 2.3 mi | 8.2 |
| DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY Carlsbad | 2.2 mi | 7.5 |
| MONTERREY ELEMENTARY Carlsbad | 2.5 mi | 6.0 |
| OCOTILLO ELEMENTARY Carlsbad | 3.0 mi | 8.2 |
| LOVING ELEMENTARY Loving | 12.7 mi | 9.1 |
| LOVING MIDDLE Loving | 12.7 mi | 7.8 |
| LOVING HIGH Loving | 12.8 mi | 5.3 |
| HERMOSA ELEMENTARY Artesia | 30.0 mi | 6.7 |
| ARTESIA ZIA INTERMEDIATE Artesia | 30.6 mi | 6.6 |
| YESO ELEMENTARY Artesia | 30.6 mi | 7.7 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY Artesia | 30.8 mi | 6.1 |
| ARTESIA HIGH Artesia | 31.0 mi | 5.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 88220 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$79,668
Median Home Value
$192,600
Median Rent
$1,218/mo
Population
40,151
College Educated
20.4%
Homeownership
75.5%
Avg Commute
21.5 min
Poverty Rate
12%
Median Age
37.9
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| LA MESA ELEMENTARY Albuquerque, NM | 3.9 |
| MAGGIE CORDOVA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Rio Rancho, NM | 3.6 |
| PUESTA DEL SOL ELEMENTARY Rio Rancho, NM | 3.5 |
| CIELO AZUL ELEMENTARY Rio Rancho, NM | 4.3 |
| ENCHANTED HILLS ELEMENTARY Rio Rancho, NM | 4.3 |
| TUCUMCARI ELEMENTARY Tucumcari, NM | 4.3 |
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.
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Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 671
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 42
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 49.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Eddy County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 53.2%
- Phone
- (575) 234-3304
Resources & Links
District
CARLSBAD- District Enrollment
- 7,343
- Schools in District
- 14
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,304
- District Rank
- #10 of 13
Other Schools in This District
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