Cottonwood Union Elementary

Cottonwood, California — 2 schools

892
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$14,033
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Cottonwood Union Elementary operates 2 public schools serving 892 students, placing it among the smaller districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 917 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Shasta County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,033 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 22.5% local, 61.3% state, and 16.2% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $73,431 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 48/100, ranked #826 of 1547 in California against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 334:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 36.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 68.8% White, 19.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% Asian across the district's schools.

North Cottonwood accounts for 54.3% of all Cottonwood Union Elementary student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Cottonwood Union Elementary-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Cottonwood Union Elementary student-counselor ratio is 334:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Cottonwood Union Elementary is typically wider than the Cottonwood Union Elementary-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Cottonwood Union Elementary chronic absenteeism rate is 36.0% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

16.2%
Federal
61.3%
State
22.5%
Local

Funding Equity

48
Equity Score
826 / 1547
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Shasta County county, where this district is located.

$1,172
Studio/mo
$1,212
1 BR/mo
$1,590
2 BR/mo
$2,211
3 BR/mo
$2,667
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$73,431
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Cottonwood Union Elementary.

White 68.8%
Hispanic or Latino 19.6%
African American 0.6%
Asian 1.2%
Multiracial 3.8%
Other 6.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

334:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
36.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Cottonwood Union Elementary

School Enrollment
North Cottonwood
498
West Cottonwood Junior High
419

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $25,877/pupil
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San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $26,901/pupil
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Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,737/pupil
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Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $19,558/pupil
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Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $16,975/pupil
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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Cottonwood Union Elementary?

Cottonwood Union Elementary has 2 schools, including 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 892 students.

How much does Cottonwood Union Elementary spend per student?

Cottonwood Union Elementary spends $14,033 per student. The district has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #826 in California.

What is the average teacher salary in Cottonwood Union Elementary?

The average teacher salary in Cottonwood Union Elementary is $73,431 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Cottonwood Union Elementary?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Shasta County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Cottonwood Union Elementary?

Cottonwood Union Elementary students are 68.8% White, 19.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% Asian, 0.6% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Cottonwood Union Elementary?

Cottonwood Union Elementary has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #826 out of 1547 districts in California. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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