Other / mixed grade configuration · El Dorado Hills, CA
Cottonwood
Federal NCES profile for Cottonwood, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
The verdict
Cottonwood earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #3 of 5
- schools in El Dorado Hills · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 36.7:1
- large classes for California
- 44.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Cottonwood has class sizes larger than 99% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood ranks #3 of 5 schools in El Dorado Hills, CA.
School address
NCES ID 060252414444 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+301 students YoY
Cottonwood grew from 2,798 students in 2022-23 to 3,099 in 2023-24 (+10.8%).
Teacher FTE added 97.6 → 113.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+301 students YoY 060252414444 · El Dorado Hills, CA Other · LARGE · CHARTER
3,563 enr · 36.7:1 · 44.1% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Minnesota Connections Academy 7-12 (3,536 students)
Cottonwood grew from 2,798 students in 2022-23 to 3,099 in 2023-24 (+10.8%). Teacher FTE added 97.6 → 113.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
How Cottonwood compares
Cottonwood is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 36.7:1 | ▲ 71% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.1% | ▼ 21% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 3,563 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
Equity indicators methodology
Student demographics
Largest group: White at 69.8% of enrollment.
Simpson diversity index - at 47.8, Cottonwood is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Cottonwood District reports $12,667 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
Similar other schools in El Dorado Hills
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~3,563 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cottonwood
How many students attend Cottonwood?
Cottonwood has 3,563 students enrolled. It is a public school in El Dorado Hills, CA. CCD year-over-year: 2,798 (2022-23) → 3,099 (2023-24), up 301.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood is 36.7:1, which is 71% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 134% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cottonwood?
44.1% of students at Cottonwood are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cottonwood?
The largest demographic group at Cottonwood is White at 69.8% of enrollment, in El Dorado Hills, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottonwood?
Cottonwood has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cottonwood rank among schools in El Dorado Hills?
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood ranks #3 of 5 schools in El Dorado Hills, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in El Dorado Hills on the city page.
What other schools are in Cottonwood District?
None; Cottonwood District is a single-school charter district, and Cottonwood is its only campus.