Needs Improvement
#297 of 301 schools in WY
Cottonwood Elementary
Elementary School · Natrona County School District #1 · Casper, WY
A Natrona County School District #1 elementary school where students score 14 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1230 West 15th Street, Casper, WY 82601
- Math 27% proficient (2022)
- Reading 32% proficient (2022)
- 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cottonwood Elementary score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WY average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 43 points across the 13-year record (2010–2022) and has held near 30% recently.
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 47% (multi-year average, 2010-2022) · reading/ELA 49% (multi-year average, 2010-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 26 test records from WY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
56.6%
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 78Very Walkable
- Bike 69Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,409/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Casper), 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
$68,526
Median home value
$244,200
Median rent
$856/mo
College educated
27%
Homeownership
71.7%
Poverty rate
10.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 82601; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.3 | K–5 | 0.8 mi | 351 | Compare → |
| Journey ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 2.0 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 374 | Compare → |
| Montessori School of CasperPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 0.9 mi | 6 | Compare → |
| Mount Hope Lutheran SchoolPrivate · tuition | 3.9private | K–12 | 0.9 mi | 58 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Natrona County School District #1
- Schools in district
- 27
- Rank in district
- #25 of 26
- District spending per student
- $16,870NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cottonwood Elementary is listed in Natrona County School District #1; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cottonwood Elementary
Cottonwood Elementary is a public elementary school in Casper, WY, part of Natrona County School District #1, serving approximately 376 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.5 out of 10 and ranks #297 of 301 schools in WY. State assessment records show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cottonwood Elementary
What grades does Cottonwood Elementary serve?
Cottonwood Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Cottonwood Elementary?
Cottonwood Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 376 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elementary is 13.9:1. 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 WY?
Cottonwood Elementary ranks #297 of 301 schools in WY.
What is Cottonwood Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Cottonwood Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.5 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 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022).
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?
56.6% 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 376
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Natrona County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 44.1%
- Phone
- (307) 253-4700
- Area population (ZIP 82601)
- 26,945
- Area average commute
- 18.3 min
- Area median age
- 38
Official sources & links
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.
- 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.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · 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 the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment 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 82601; 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 multi-year average, 2010-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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