- Enrollment
- 567
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Paola, KS
Cottonwood Elem
Federal NCES profile for Cottonwood Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 201050001726
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cottonwood Elem earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Paola · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.1:1
- students per teacher
- 32.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Cottonwood Elem has class sizes near the Kansas median. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elem ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Paola, KS.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-26 students YoY
Cottonwood Elem shrank from 385 students in 2022-23 to 359 in 2023-24 (-6.8%).
Teacher FTE held 29.6 → 29.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-26 students YoY 201050001726 · Paola, KS Other · SMALL · TRAD
379 enr · 13.1:1 · 32.2% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Paola High (567 students)
Cottonwood Elem shrank from 385 students in 2022-23 to 359 in 2023-24 (-6.8%). Teacher FTE held 29.6 → 29.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
Cottonwood Elem in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Paola High
Paola High
567 students
- Paola Middle
Paola Middle
413 students
- This school
Cottonwood Elem
379 students
- Sunflower Elem
Sunflower Elem
373 students
What this shows Cottonwood Elem reports 379 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cottonwood Elem compares
Cottonwood Elem is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.1:1 | ▼ 5% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.2% | ▼ 25% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 379 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
379
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% below the Kansas average of 42.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 47% in Kansas - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
12.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$22,404
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kansas avg of $15,788
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 85.8%
Hispanic or Latino 7.1%
Two or More 4.7%
African American 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 85.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.6, Cottonwood Elem is less mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
District finance for Paola reports $22,404 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cottonwood Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paola High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paola Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sunflower Elem | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cottonwood Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 413
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 373
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
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 (~379 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cottonwood Elem
How many students attend Cottonwood Elem?
Cottonwood Elem has 379 students enrolled. It is a public school in Paola, KS. CCD year-over-year: 385 (2022-23) → 359 (2023-24), down 26.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottonwood Elem is 13.1:1, which is 5% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 17% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cottonwood Elem?
32.2% of students at Cottonwood Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cottonwood Elem?
The largest demographic group at Cottonwood Elem is White at 85.8% of enrollment, in Paola, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottonwood Elem?
Cottonwood Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cottonwood Elem rank among public schools in Paola?
By Resource Investment Index, Cottonwood Elem ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Paola, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Paola?
Besides Cottonwood Elem, Paola also operates Paola High (567 students), Paola Middle (413 students), and Sunflower Elem (373 students). See the Paola district page for the complete list.