Cottonwood School

Cottonwood School is a public elementary serving 156 students in Orangeville, Utah, across grades PK through 5. Its composite score of 9.3 out of 10 — rated Exceptional — is not a rounding artifact. The school ranks #1 among all 10 schools in Emery District and sits at #16 out of 1,014 public schools across Utah, outperforming 98% of the state's public schools by overall score.

The growth data is particularly striking. Cottonwood's growth score of 9.9 out of 10 means students here advance academically at a rate that beats almost every school in Utah — not just small rural schools, but urban and suburban peers as well. Academic achievement rounds out at 8.6, placing both dimensions well above state norms.

At 156 students and a student-teacher ratio of 19.5:1, the school operates at a scale that keeps classrooms manageable. Among the 600 public elementary schools in Utah, Cottonwood places 11th — a result that reflects sustained performance rather than a single strong year. For families weighing options in the Emery District, the data leaves little ambiguity: Cottonwood is the top-performing school in the district by a clear margin.

With an enrollment of 156 students, Cottonwood School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

Located in a rural area, Cottonwood School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.